The Dutch national team was eliminated on Sunday evening in the eighth final of the European Championship. After a red card for Matthijs de Ligt, the Czech Republic proved too strong with 0-2. Football zone assesses the players of the Dutch national team who participated in at least one half with a score.
Player Report the Dutch against Czech Republic
| PLAYER | FIGURE |
|---|---|
| Maarten Stekelenburg | 3 |
| Denzel Dumfries | 5 |
| Stefan de Vrij | 5 |
| Matthijs de Ligt | 4 |
| Daley Blind | 3 |
| Patrick van Aanholt | 3.5 |
| Marten de Roon | 4 |
| Georginio Wijnaldum | 2 |
| Frenkie de Jong | 4.5 |
| Donyell Malen | 3.5 |
| Memphis Depay | 3.5 |
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Numbers the Dutch
Maarten Stekelenburg: 3
Stekelenburg came out of his goal after the free kick from the right flank, which resulted in the 0-1. It was an error of judgment, which left the keeper out of position when Tomás Kalas prepared Tomás Holes’ goal. Just before that, Stekelenburg had already made a mistake by letting a cross from Antonin Barak slip out of his hands, giving the Czech Republic a corner. Stekelenburg did pick easy balls out of the air. Stekelenburg often opted for a long ball forward, even when central defenders were free. Although the goalkeeper has a good kick in the legs, his kicks often led to loss of the ball.
Denzel Dumfries: 5
Dumfries was one of the few players of the Dutch who reached an acceptable level in the first half. The right-back cleverly passed an opponent several times, such as when he passed a long ball from Blind after twelve minutes and was stopped by a defender at the last minute. Six minutes before the break, Dumfries passed a guard at speed in the penalty area, after which his cross was intercepted. After the break he received an unnecessary yellow card and his pass to Malen was much too sharp in a potentially dangerous breakout. However, he was the last man to block a shot by Pavel Kaderabek in the penalty area with an outstretched leg. At 0-1, Dumfries fell short, as he didn’t cover anyone while the greatest danger was around him. At the 0-2 he sprinted forward and as a result the flank was completely open for assister Holes.
Stefan de Vrij: 5
The the Dutch squad was one man less, but De Vrij was not seriously covering anyone during the free kick from which the Czech Republic opened the score. The centre-back reacted far too late to the events unfolding before his eyes. In the first half he was one of the more confident-looking players of the Dutch, but that is worth little if he reneges at a crucial moment in the game.
Matthijs de Ligt: 4
De Ligt’s performance was ended shortly after the break by a red card. The defender threatened to lose a duel with Patrik Schick, moved his hand to the ball and was sent off after the intervention of the VAR. It was a particularly unfortunate moment for De Ligt, who let his team down after he just played a strong first half. He was unbeatable for the rest, especially in the air. In addition, De Ligt performed a crucial sliding seven minutes before the break, preventing Barak from scoring.
Daley Blind: 3
Before Holes headed in the 0-1, he walked away from Blind. The defender then made no contribution and looked on hopelessly as Holes opened the score. Five minutes after the break was a similar moment, when Blind stepped in wrong in midfield, but then he was not penalized for it. In the first half, Blind was slightly better. The highlight was a nice long ball to Dumfries in the thirteenth minute, which created a chance. At other times Blind did not dare to look for an offensive solution, such as when he ignored a detached Stefan de Vrij after half an hour, or careless defense led to loss of ball. In the second half
Patrick van Aanholt: 3.5
The left back of the Dutch made a rough impression. His control over the ball left something to be desired, even at moments after he captured a ball. For example, unnecessary haggling at the back line led to the free kick from which the Czech Republic opened the score; knowing that the the Dutch was on the field with one man less, he could kick the ball away much better so that the the Dutch could regroup.
Marten de Roon: 4
Halfway through the first half, De Roon hindered opponent Tomás Soucek before his header, which went wide. A minute before half time, De Roon sent a nice long ball to Malen, which was offside. Other than that, he didn’t make a convincing impression. The midfielder is the ‘balafpacker’ of the Dutch, but did not show that sufficiently. Eighteen minutes before the end, De Roon was replaced by Wout Weghorst.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 2
Wijnaldum scored three times in this European Championship, but was completely invisible against the Czech Republic. Until he was easily trumped by Kalas prior to the 0-1 and he was too late for the 0-2 of the Czech Republic. Those moments were painfully visible. Wijnaldum’s performance was unworthy of a captain.
Frenkie de Jong: 4.5
De Jong provided some peace of mind on the ball in the chaotically operating the Dutch, although he was not nearly as decisive in the opponent’s half as he can be. Only at the end of the first half did he initiate a few attacks. De Jong was important in defense on a few occasions, such as when he won a duel around his own penalty area in minute 27 or when he headed a cross away a minute later. After De Ligt’s red card, De Jong tried to become more important in the counter, but his contribution left much to be desired.
Memphis Depay: 3.5
If things go badly at the Dutch, Depay is quickly looked at to provide a solution. A nice heel on Malen could have been that solution, but the striker failed miserably for the enemy goal. Depay also got stuck too often. The attacker suffered no fewer than 25 loss of possession in the match. He combined well with Malen and Van Aanholt a few times and forced the Czech Republic’s mistakes in the opening phase by actively chasing, but overall his contribution was far too limited.
Donyell Grind: 3.5
Malen was taken off the field after De Ligt’s red card and replaced by Quincy Promes. The game could have looked very different if Malen had scored in the fiftieth minute: he freed himself in a very clever way and charged at the keeper, but then doubts set in and he failed. Malen, who was preferred over Wout Weghorst, was also prominent in the first half. He looked sharp and had good runs, but at the most important moment he didn’t do what he is on the field for.
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