The Dutch national team won 4-0 against Scotland in a friendly international match in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Friday evening. A boost for national coach Ronald Koeman's team in the run-up to this summer's European Championships in Germany. Football zone rates the Oranje's basic players with a grade.

Oranje's report figures.

Mark Fleken 7

Fleken saved the Dutch team from falling behind after more than fifteen minutes when the goalkeeper cat-likely knocked Ryan Christie's header out of his goal. “This is really an amazing save from Fleken,” Rafael van der Vaart exulted NOS. “It looks a bit like Unnerstall's save with Twente against PSV (on a header by Luuk de Jong, ed.),” Pierre van Hooijdonk added. Brentford's keeper subsequently made an alert and reliable impression, especially when the Scots repeatedly looked for attack before halftime.

Jeremie Frimpong 5.5

On paper, Frimpong started as a right back, but Koeman indicated before kick-off that the Bayer Leverkusen revelation was seen as a right winger. The right foot tried to create danger on the flank, but this did not result in many useful crosses. That danger did not materialize after halftime and Frimpong made way for his biggest competitor for the right back position, Denzel Dumfries, after 62 minutes of play.

Lutsharel Geertruida 6

Due to various injuries, Geertruida was allowed to perform in the heart of the defense, next to Virgil van Dijk. The Feyenoord defender was important in the build-up of the Dutch team with his pure passing. Geertruida held up reasonably well in the back line and gives Koeman an extra option for the center of the defense, especially in view of the approaching European Championship. He was lucky in the final phase when McTominay knocked him in the air but headed wide.

Virgil van Dijk 6

For Van Dijk there was an extra touch to the practice match against Scotland. The Dutch captain played for Celtic for several years at the beginning of his career. The figurehead of the defense of Koeman's team, like his fellow defenders, had a lot to do against the Scots, who did not dig in and had attacking intentions. Van Dijk and associates also gave away a few chances after the break, but were not punished for this.

Nathan Ake 6.5

Aké looked quite comfortable in the first half and was rarely troubled on the left. The multifunctional defender prevented Andrew Robertson from becoming dangerous for Flek's goal twelve minutes after the break. Aké also made a solid performance in a match in which the Dutch national team certainly did not make a great impression and now seems assured of a place in the final European Championship selection of the Dutch national team.

Mats Wieffer 4.5

Like his colleagues in midfield, Wieffer struggled to make things difficult for the Scottish team. Feyenoord's controller suffered a clumsy loss of ball after more than an hour of play in Amsterdam, but had all the luck in the world because Lawrence Shankland, top scorer in the Scottish competition with 20 goals, hit the crossbar alone ahead of Flokken. Koeman had seen enough and immediately brought Wieffer to the side, with PSV player Joey Veerman as his replacement in midfield.
The much-discussed Wijnaldum, who was missing in the Dutch team for more than half a year, was allowed to show it from the start by Koeman. The 33-year-old veteran, who played his 91st international match for the Netherlands, did not exactly show the national coach that a starting spot was justified. The inconspicuous Wijnaldum was dealt a serious blow, especially at X, although Van Hooijdonk and Van der Vaart did not specifically discuss his performance at half-time. Koeman left Wijnaldum on and was rewarded for this when the experienced midfielder headed in the 2-0. Only after the goal did he have to make way for Teun Koopmeiners.

Georginio Wijnaldum didn't play very well, but he did score.

Tijjani Reijnders 7

Reijnders, who had to make the injured Frenkie de Jong forget, did not stand out very much in the first half that was difficult for the Dutch team. That changed when the AC Milan midfielder scored his first goal in the the Dutch shirt a few minutes before halftime. A blazing shot from outside the box flew into the left corner. “He could only score that way,” said Rafael van der Vaart at half-time NOS. Just after half-time, Reijnders prevented McTominay from scoring from close range with a block and enabled Malen to make it 4-0 with a nice pass.

Tijjani Reijnders beautifully scored his first goal for the Dutch team.

Xavi Simons 4

Simons was hit in the face by Scott McTominay in the initial phase, but he can continue playing. The star player of RB Leipzig seemed to be looking for rest and could not really leave his mark on the attacking game of the Dutch team. Simons searched in vain for his very first international goal and was close in the initial phase after the break. However, his effort flew wide of the target. Simons was once again unable to make an impression for the Dutch team and was relieved by Donyell Malen in the final phase.
Depay was eager to prove himself after an absence in the Dutch team of almost a year. Like his fellow attackers, he could do little in the first half. Depay received a yellow card for an unfortunate foul on McTominay. “Memphis had too many assumptions that were not right, so you never get any rest in the game,” Van Hooijdonk sighed after the first 45 minutes. Depay seemed to score shortly after half-time, but saw his shot deflected into the far corner by Angus Gunn. With fifteen minutes left, the attack leader made way for Wout Weghorst, who promptly scored.

Memphis Depay returned to the Dutch team after a year's absence, but was unable to score despite his hard work.

Cody Gakpo 5.5

Gakpo seemed to be on his way to making it 1-0 after five minutes, but was whistled back for offside. After more than half an hour, the Liverpool attacker went to the ground in a very flashy manner in the box and Gakpo was lucky not to receive a yellow card for the foul. Van der Vaart and Van Hooijdonk did not discuss this incident in their analysis at half-time. Gakpo recovered after the break and forced Gunn into a great save with a floating shot. 20 minutes before the end he enabled Wijnaldum to head in the 2-0.

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