The Netherlands had a mission to show that the semi-finals of the last European Championship were not a coincidence and they lost, although in some shadows, Bosnia in a match where Reijnders and Simons stood out in particular in the absence of leaders De Jong and Depay, this second in the stands (5-2).
Ronald Koeman’s team flowed the ball with ease, a very interesting mix of youth and experience. Things were made easier at the start with a goal almost out of nowhere from a comb-over by Zirkzee that punished Vasilj’s half start (13′). Minutes in which the Netherlands were more deployed in Gakpo’s side, which was clearly the best and most dangerous in the Euro Cup even with Arne Slot he did not have almost any minutes in Liverpool.
But shadows appeared, because despite having Van Dijk and De Ligt by their side, the Dutch team showed some confusion. In the first, on the mark left by Schouten, he released Huseinbasic and played a good pass for Demirovic to equalize (27′).
It was Bosnia’s first shot and almost late in the first half. As Simons and Reijnders set the tempo, very good on the ball, and the latter pulled a play out of his sleeve to score before the break (45′), which he almost emulated as he left the locker room, but was stopped by a defender . A few minutes of offensive torrent orchestrated by Koeman and company, with an unlucky Gakpo already shooting the post in the first half but meeting the goal again after a pass from Dumfries’ dummy (56′).
The Netherlands missed many opportunities to extend the lead. And Bosnia, which as in the first half still did nothing, repeated the same. Amazing pass from Bajraktrevic, legend Dzeko brings him down and closes the gap (73′). Minutes of tension in which the team Sergej Barbarez almost scored a third, but he could do nothing more. And the Netherlands dominated again, as in the final minutes they gave Weghorst (88′) and Simons (92′) some grace.
match lineup
1
22
5
14
15
4
8
6
10
7
11
1
4
7
2
18
5
16
6
10
11
15
Philips Stadium
Nikola Vasilj1
66′
Jusuf Gazibegovic4
85′
65′
Amar Dedic7
46′
Nihad Mujakic2
67′
Nikola Katic18
Adrian Barisic5
82′
Denis Huseinbasic16
67′
Benjamin Tahirovic6
45′
12′
73′
Ermedin Demirovic10
26′
75′
82′
91′
Edin Dzeko11
72′
55′
65′
Armin Gigovic15
68′
Replacements
Osman Hadzicic12
Kenan Piric22
66′
Stjepan Radeljic21
65′
Ermin Bicakcic23
Ifet Dakovac3
Rade Krunic8
45′
Ivan Basic13
82′
Dal Varesanovic14
73′
87′
Dzenis Burnic17
67′
Dario Saric19
68′
65′
Haris Tabakovic9
82′
Esmir Bajrakatarevic20
67′
coach
Ronald Koeman
Sergej Barbarez
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
