After two matches at the European Championship, the Netherlands has already qualified as group winner for the eighth finals. After a 3-2 victory over Ukraine, the the Dutch squad was 2-0 too strong for Austria on Thursday-evening. In their opinion, the foreign media are positive about the team of national coach Frank de Boer, which, according to L’Equipe has ‘the sensation of the European Championship’ in the team.
Denzel Dumfries was elected for the second time in a row Man of the Match. After the PSV back scored the winning goal against Ukraine last Sunday, he determined the final score against Austria at 2-0 on a pass from Donyell Malen. L’Equipe highlights the ‘tireless’ right-back positively: “He once again played a grand match. As usual, PSV’s right back raced over the flank. He is one of the revelations of the tournament right now.”
Dumfries’ achievements are also highlighted in other countries. “Denzel Dumfries, it was not the protagonist that the Netherlands had counted on, but the right back of PSV is only missing a cape that matches his the Dutch equipment,” he said. The last news. BBC writes about an ‘excellent performance’ by Dumfries, while the Spanish marca calls him ‘one of the surprises of this European Championship’.
2-0!??
Donyell Malen, who just came in, keeps the overview and then there is Denzel Dumfries with his second of this European Championship?? #nedoos #euro2020 pic.twitter.com/p0hubAdi1d
— NOS Sports (@NOSsport) June 17, 2021
In Austria, the compliments are handed out to the De Boer team. “The group favorite was a size too big,” said courier. “Now a play-off against Ukraine awaits. The positive first: Austria has their place in the next round in their own hands. The bad news: one point probably wouldn’t have helped the Netherlands, which deserved to win.” Austria is in third place in Group C with as many points (three) as Ukraine. Monday evening (9 p.m.) both countries will compete in a duel for second place.
“Oh the Dutch”, writes BILD, which the Netherlands considered ‘superior’ against Austria. The visitors were emphatically looking for the equalizer after the break, but then got the 2-0 to Dumfries’ ears. “Just as Austria started chasing the equalizer, the the Dutch stormed forward impressively again,” writes kicker. The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeiting saw the Dutch celebrate the victory less exuberantly than against Austria. “Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the less dramatic course of the match, but at least the Netherlands played in a very respectable way and after this win they are now through to the last sixteen – clearly the best team in this group. ”
The man of the match was not Denzel Dumfries or Frenkie de Jong
The report figures of Voetbalzone of the players of the Dutch.
“Without enchantment, but with flashes of the quality we know from the Dutch national team”, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian sports newspaper discusses the return of Matthijs de Ligt, who had to miss the first group match due to a groin injury. “His return provided extra compactness in the rear. Partly because of this, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg experienced an unemployed evening.” Also The Guardian praised De Ligt and also saw that De Boer dealt with the criticism of his 5-3-2 system. “After a victory with the strong Matthijs de Ligt in the defense, De Boer’s men have given him the best answer to the critics: six points from two games.”
The newspapaer discusses the presence of Ronald Koeman in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. He left the Dutch national team a year ago for a chance at Barcelona. “There he was, Ronald Koeman. Not on the bench, but in the stands. What was he thinking deep down? Wouldn’t he have regretted leaving the Dutch team for a while? That he dropped this European Championship – partly in his own country? Despite a top contract with Barcelona and a nice abode near the Tibidabo, it can hardly be otherwise.” Koeman was critical of the the Dutch after the victory over Ukraine. He indicated that he did not understand why everyone was so positive. According to the Belgian newspaper, that criticism was ‘a bit ‘awkward‘.
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