Netherlands Euro Cup: Netherlands drift to win in Euro 2024 Qualifying
Marten de Roon, Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst counted the goals as the Netherlands beat Greece 3-0 at the Philips Stadion. The win sees Ronald Koeman’s men move to a record of two wins from three games in Group B of Euro Cup 2024 qualifying. They are sat in second on six points, some nine shies of France. France has played two more games than Koeman's squad.
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Cody Gakpo was on the scoresheet as Netherlands soft past Greece 3-0 in Eindhoven to pick up a vital win just their second since the World Cup in Euro Cup qualifying. Marten de Roon opened the marking from a corner, reacting rapidest to a deflected Denzel Dumfries knockdown. The subtle glance robbed Dumfries of an assist, but he would have two before the first half was over.
First, he crossed to a spotless Gakpo, who had time to chest and fire home, and eight minutes later Dumfries crossed for a flying Wout Weghorst to head in. It was 3-0 at the intermission but could have been more if not for the quick responses of Odysseas Vlachodimos to keep out a bounced Xavi Simons effort and also the post, which denied Dumfries when he was afforded space to shoot 25 yards from the goal line.
Ronald Koeman, and the Netherlands, get a big win for the Euro Cup 2024
And 3-0 is how it ended, with Netherlands taking their foot off the gas in the second half scorn the energetic Simons' best efforts to score his first Netherlands goal. The Netherlands Euro Cup now have six points from three games and has jumped Greece on goal difference to sit in second place in Group B. Both trail France, who have played a game more than Greece and two more than the Netherlands, by nine points.
The Dutch boss was under growing pressure going into this Euro Cup qualifiers. With just one win in four matches since he resumed managing the team post-World Cup, which came against Gibraltar, he was off to a rocky restart and his team selection was scrutinised heavily. This result eases much of that burden. So too should the nature of the second and third goals, both of which came at the end of moves with real accuracy.
You are only as good as your last outcome, and if Netherlands cannot follow this up with a win in Dublin on Sunday you can gamble Koeman's critics will be out in force once more, but for now, this much-needed win buys the boss time and goodwill. Given licence to wander because Koeman forsook his four-at-the-back system, Dumfries did not dissatisfy. He set up two goals, really three, and could easily have counted one himself, instead of being denied by the post.
The Netherlands side came from a goal down to edge an amusing Euro 2024 qualifier
The Republic of Ireland's Euro Cup 2024 qualification hopes are all but over after the Netherlands came from a goal down to edge an enjoyable qualifier in Dublin. Adam Idah gave the Republic a vision that started with a fourth-minute penalty after Virgil van Dijk's handball. But the Dutch hit back with a spot-kick of their own over Cody Gakpo. Extra Wout Weghorst's winner then fated the Republic to a fourth defeat in five qualifiers.
It leaves boss Stephen Kenny's side six points adrift of the second-placed Dutch having played a game more, with a home game against Greece and a tour to Gibraltar in October up next. And with a trip to the Netherlands to come in their last qualifier, Sunday's defeat in Dublin efficiently seals the Republic's fate and heaps more burden on Kenny after the Dubliner fails to steer the team to Euro 2020 and last year's World Cup. Euro fans can buy Euro Cup Final Tickets at exclusively discounted prices.
On a mild Dublin evening, the mix of nerves and eagerness among the home crowd was rapidly visible. As kick-off advanced, they roared and roared, fuelled by the hope of seeing their team pull off an amazing shock and receive their qualifying faiths. The Irish players were invigorated by the noise, and while they did all but score against France at this ground in March, they only needed to wait four minutes against the Dutch.
Germany Euro Cup Qualifier: Republic make fantasy start
After Chiedozie Ogbene futile to finish after a risky pass from Dutch keeper Mark Flekken put Frenkie de Jong in trouble, Shane Duffy's header from the ensuing corner struck Van Dijk's hand. Idah tucked the spot-kick away with assurance. The early platform Kenny craved had arrived. But the home fans were soon to be quieted. After the hosts coughed up ownership, Gakpo sliced open their defence with a probing through ball.
Gakpo's confidently-taken drawback briefly energised the Dutch, with Bazunu doing well to thwart Donyell Malen. Five minutes before the pause, Bazunu frustrated Malen again, turning the Borussia Dortmund forward's low drive away with his foot. But the Republic were undiscouraged by flashes of the Netherlands Euro Cup team pace and continued to attack in numbers. They pressed violently, chasing and harrying a talented trio of centre-backs.
It almost produced a second home goal, too, when in a near carbon copy of Ogbene's chance in the opening minute, De Jong had his pocket picked on the edge of his box only for Ake to charge down the Irish forward's shot. Netherland's boss Ronald Koeman's reply to the Republic's first-half energy was to switch it up and it functioned. Tijani Reijnders' outline for Mats Wieffer pays for the Dutch more control in midfield.
De Jong glows as Weghorst crushes Ireland Euro Cup 2024 hopes
And the Republic duly found themselves receding. While De Jong looked shaky in control close to his own goal in the first half, the Barcelona midfielder's movement and passing in more advanced spots was a joy to watch. It was his guile and craft at the heart of the second Dutch goal. He hewed a delightful pass over the Irish defence to Dumfries who, having been played legally by Duffy, pulled the ball back for Weghorst to jump 11 minutes after being called upon.
From there, the Republic perhaps having used too much energy in the first half toiled in their efforts to get back into the game. Ogbene had a consequence appeal waved away, but with every Irish cross that failed to meet its planned target, the groans of the Aviva crowd were telling. In truth, the Dutch saw the game out fairly securely and while they remain locked in a battle for second place with Greece for Germany Euro Cup.
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