The Netherlands has had its share of troubles in recent years. The three-time World Cup runners-up missed out on the 2016 Euros and the 2018 World Cup.
On Friday, the Dutch looked like they’re back among the world’s elite, dominating World Cup champion France in a 2-0 win in the UEFA Nations League. Much of the praise must go to coach Ronald Koeman and the defensive efforts of the men in orange.
The impressive win kept the Netherlands in the hunt to win Group A (they need a win or a certain draw against Germany on Monday) while making Germany the second team relegated from League A after Iceland.
France came in on a 15-match unbeaten streak, its last loss coming 3-2 to Colombia back in March. Les Bleus needed just a draw to win Group 1 while the Netherlands faced the possibility of both winning the group or being relegated with one last match against Germany to play on Monday.
France was without the injured Paul Pogba and dealing with a couple of other injuries in defense, but still started 11 players who most nations would love to have, including the killer attacking trident of Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé. They were all completely nullified, putting just two attempts on goal all match.
Playing on the road, France struggled to maintain possession. The Netherlands’ quick attackers, mobile midfield and well-positioned defenders made life difficult for the world champions, who spent most of the match defending. When Les Bleus midfielders or forwards did get on the ball, they were swarmed by defenders cutting off avenues to push forward.
A couple of young Ajax players were key to the Netherlands’ success in shutting France down. While it’s PSV Eindhoven that is tearing up the Eredivisie this year, Ajax’s duo of Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs de Ligt were two of the stars of the show for the Dutch on Friday at De Kuip Stadion in Rotterdam.
The midfield of De Jong, Marten de Roon and Georginio Wijnaldum bossed the middle of the park against N’Golo Kanté, Steven N’Zonzi and Blaise Matuidi.
Take this tackle from De Jong, a 21-year-old Ajax midfielder. Kanté, who has an uncanny (and underrated) ability to wriggle away from defenders in the middle of the park, thought he was starting a counterattack only for De Jong to slither in and steal the ball.
That’s the type of tackle you expect Kanté to make, not to be made on the Chelsea midfielder.
When France was able to get past the midfield to the Netherlands back line, Virgil van Dijk and Co. were prepared at every turn. While van Dijk, who captained the squad, was strong throughout, his young center back partner showed by he’s a reported target of Barcelona.
Mbappé was mostly quieted by fellow 19-year-old de Ligt. Here, the Ajax defender plays Mbappé perfectly here as if he were a seasoned veteran.
Mbappé, so influential during the World Cup and this season with PSG, rarely found time and space to make the rampaging runs he’s so good at making. Griezmann too was unable to commandeer the ball and put his mark on the match.
With de Ligt and van Dijk in the middle of the defense, Daley Blind played at his more natural left-back position, often getting forward to good effect, with his counterpart on the right, Denzel Dumfries doing likewise. In the 62nd minute, the two wide backs combined for two great chances only for Lloris to come up big twice. Blind sent a ball to the back post where Dumfries was denied first with his head then with his feet.
In fact, of all the performances from the Netherlands, it would be easy to argue the man of the match was Lloris for keeping France in the match with double-digit saves. In the second half with Les Bleus trying more desperately to get forward, Lloris came up with a number of huge saves to keep it 1-0.
¡El disparoooooooo y Lloriss se viste de héroe!@OnsOranje 1-0 @equipedefrance
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) November 16, 2018
¡Ufffff! Holanda cada vez más cerca del segundo @OnsOranje 1-0 @equipedefrance
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) November 16, 2018
While Lloris was standing on his head to keep it close, France never really was able to maintain long spells of possession in the Dutch half until short passage in stoppage time. And while the Dutch attackers kept Lloris on his toes, they also were vital to disrupting France’s attack as Memphis Depay, Ryan Babel and Steven Bergwijn all pressed with purpose throughout the match.
The Netherlands showed its intentions early when Depay blew by the French defense to set up Wijnaldum in the middle of the box. The Liverpool midfielder, however, struck his shot too close to Lloris in goal.
¡El primer aviso es de Holanda! Lloris se la encuentra y salva la portería de Francia.@OnsOranje 0-0 @equipedefrance
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) November 16, 2018
Eventually, the Netherlands went ahead.
In the 44th minute, the ball fell to Ryan Babel in the box. The former Liverpool winger’s shot was well saved by Lloris, but it fell to current Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum, who smashed the rebound into the back of the net.
After more Lloris heroics in the second half, the Dutch finally, in the 95th minute, grabbed their second after France gave up a penalty kick. Depay hit a cheeky Panenka to put the match away.
¡GOOOOOOOOOLLLAAAZO! Memphis la pica y Lloris no puede hacer nada.@OnsOranje 2-0 @equipedefrance
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) November 16, 2018
The Netherlands ended up with nearly 60 percent possession while taking 18 shots compared to just seven for France in a dominating effort for the Oranje. Can they keep it going against 2014 World Cup champion Germany on Monday to win the group?
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