The French sports newspaper L’Equipe highlights three Dutch dissonances after the defeat against the Czech Republic (0-2) in the eighth final of the European Championship. In an article that highlights the ‘tops and flops’, the performance of Matthijs de Ligt and Donyell Malen is rated with a 3; Georginio Wijnaldum is awarded a 4. In the eyes of L’Equipe Daley Blind (6) was the least bad player of the the Dutch squad.
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. “His indisputable red card turned the game around, because the the Dutch dominated. He made a good tackle before that, in the 38th minute”, the sports magazine refers to the sliding with which De Ligt prevented opponent Antonin Barak from scoring. “But otherwise we didn’t quite find him himself.”
The worst man in the Dutch gets a 2 after a failure in Budapest
Voetbalzone also handed out report numbers to the players of the Dutch.
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. “He came face to face with Tomás Vaclík at the short end. It illustrated what Malen still lacks to be a top striker: realism. It’s a shame, because with his explosiveness and mobility he provided space and depth.”
Wijnaldum was passed by Football zone rated with a 2 and was therefore the worst rated player of the Dutch. L’Equipe is slightly milder with a 4, but also concludes that he was invisible. “Where was the tireless tank from the first games? The new signing of Paris Saint-Germain struggled physically and his influence on the game was limited, both offensively and with possession of the ball. He lost the header against Tomás Kalas prior to the game. first goal.”
According to the French, the best players played for the Czech Republic: Tomás Holes (8), Barak (7) and Vaclik (7) excelled, finds L’Equipe. There is a 6 left for Blind. “Although the Netherlands struggled with the good organization of the Czech Republic, Blind tried to find an opening with his long balls. There was nothing wrong with his attitude. He gave Patrick van Aanholt cover when needed, continued to believe in it and set an example with his leadership .”
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