Only a historic debacle could prevent their presence in the Final Four of the Nations League, but the Netherlands sealed their qualification with a 1-0 win in the 129th edition of the classic against Belgium, their eternal rivals, despite missing of Azulgrana Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay.
The Netherlands finished Group 4 of League A unbeaten, with 16 points from 6 games and 6 points ahead of Belgium, who never believed in the miracle they needed to get to the Final Four: to win three goals after of 1-4 that ‘oranje’ endorsed him in June in Brussels.
Without Fremkie de Jong and Memphis Depay, Louis van Gaal formed a starting eleven with six Ajax players (Pasveer, Timber, Berghuis, Blind, Klaassen and Bergwijn) and none of the players listed among the Spanish club.
Thierry Henry for the suspended Roberto Martínez
Meanwhile, Thierry Henry, Roberto Martínez’s assistant, led the Belgian team today as the Catalan coach was suspended after being sent off on Thursday against Wales. The madridistas Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard (captain of the ‘red devils’) and Axel Witsel (Atlético) started and fellow mattress player Yannick Carrasco came on after the break.
The Netherlands lacked the fluidity in their game that Frenkie de Jong brings them and the mobility and shooting of Memphis, so Courtois didn’t need to intervene in the first half.
The Netherlands, aware that only a massive debacle kept them out of the Final Four, did not strain the engine, although after half an hour they suffered a new defeat when Steven Berghuis retired with muscle problems.
Alternate domain without occasion
Both teams alternated long possessions, so dominance was equal, although Belgium forced a very confident Remko Pasveer to intervene on several occasions.
The Ajax goalkeeper had no problem keeping out two shots from Michy Batshuayi and Amadou Onana (37′) as the ‘devils’ lacked their finishing facet without Romelu Lukaku, their attacking reference, and lacked determination to try the miracle
An earthy De Bruyne
Kevin de Bruyne did not have his brightest day either, although the most outstanding actions, counted, of the Belgians started in his boots.
After an unremarkable first half, the Netherlands released one of their offensive resources after the break, the rise of Denzel Dumfries, but Courtois avoided the tips of his fingers as his cross shot became 1-0 (48′).
Despite the fact that Belgium brought on Yannick Carrasco and Charles De Ketelaerse to fatten up the attack, the match continued in the same vein.
Van Dijk scores from a corner
De Bruyne tried to break it with a long, trademark pass that Onana caught, but Pasveer put in a saving hand (66′). The Netherlands woke up and, after Bergwijn’s shot was blocked by Courtois (71′), captain Van Dijk opened the scoring by heading into the net from a corner that Cody Gakpo took after the 18-year-old central defender Zeno Debast misjudged. the jump.
Belgium looked for the equalizer for a matter of respect and had several chances, but the Netherlands had a clearer chance to increase the advantage when Courtois avoided two goals scored on their respective arrivals from Davy Klaassen and Bergwijn.
Already in extra time, the recent Dodi Lukebakio starred in the game’s most impressive play with a Chilean that crashed over the crossbar of Pasveer’s goal, but by then the die had been released.
Source: La Verdad
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