The Dutch futsal team was unable to continue the good start of the European Championship after the victory over Ukraine. It lost without a chance with 4-1 against reigning European Champion Portugal. With a win, the Dutch futsal would have qualified for the next round, so there was a lot at stake prior to the game. The the Dutch only created too few chances to offer resistance to the Portuguese.
Portugal started the match with the same players as against Serbia. At the Dutch futsal, national coach Max Tjaden had completely changed the line-up, a conscious choice not to allow Pany Varela to play futsal. Despite the changed line-up, things went wrong for the Dutch almost immediately. However, goalkeeper Manuel Kuijk saved well on two shots by Erick Mendonça and an attempt by Bruno Coelho. Zicky Té turned away, but he shot just wide out of the turn. After five minutes the the Dutch unfortunately fell behind. Zicky Té shot at goal from a rebound. The bet had gone wide, but the ball caromed into the goal via the leg of captain Oualid Saadouni: 1-0.
the Dutch keeper Manuel Kuijk is playing well, but Portugal’s 3-0 seemed tenable. #porned #futsaleuro pic.twitter.com/Ja5LI5Z42F
— NOS Football (@NOS Football) January 23, 2022
Until then, the Dutch futsal had never shot on target. Portugal pressed the Dutch far into their own half, and once Tjaden’s team had the ball, the Dutch didn’t have a second to build up. That was the game until the break. On a chance by Thomas Paco and some long shots, Kuijk made an apparently simple save. The Netherlands seemed to be able to get the tea without further damage. Seventeen seconds before the whistle of the Croatian referee Vadran Babic, Pany scored, who shot Portugal to the world title a few months ago, but after a good combination with Zicky Té.
From a kick-in by Coulho in the 23rd minute, Pany shot straight at Kuijk, but the keeper made a rare slip. The ball went through the legs of the goalkeeper into the goal and so the the Dutch faced a 3-0 deficit early in the second half. Immediately afterwards the goalkeeper of Portugal for the first time in the match what to do. Jordany Martinus’ long shot was not difficult enough to pass André Sousa. The Netherlands had a hard time with the 4-0 system of Portuguese national coach Jorge Braz, in which none of the players occupies a fixed position and they are therefore constantly on the move. Pauleta cut out his direct opponent but encountered Kuijk in the one on one that followed. The star on the side of the the Dutch suffered a head injury after a save. The goalkeeper was able to continue the game, but he was clearly in pain.
the Dutch does something in return! El Ghannouti with the ball on the crossbar, Bouyouzan hits the rebound. #porned #futsaleuro pic.twitter.com/gqqc4zzxcd
— NOS Football (@NOS Football) January 23, 2022
Martinus shot again from a difficult angle at Sousa, who made an excellent save with his foot. The Netherlands took more and more risks, even Kuijk was occasionally far from his goal. Record international Jamal el Ghannouti seemed to score from his own half, but the ball exploded on the crossbar. Lahzen Bouyouzan shot the rebound convincingly into the short corner and the Dutch got some hope for a result again, with seven minutes to go. The clock ticked mercilessly and St. Juste was brought in as the fifth field player to replace keeper Kuijk, leaving the goal empty. Portugal took advantage of this after a mistake by Mats Velzeboer. Afonso Jesus’ 4-1 was also the final score.
Despite the defeat, the Dutch futsal still has everything in its own hands. Because Ukraine won 6-1 against Serbia, the Dutch enclave is in group B with a victory in the last game against Serbia. In the event of a draw, it must be hoped that Ukraine does not beat Portugal. Even in the event of a defeat, the the Dutch can still claim second place in the group, provided Ukraine loses by large numbers to Portugal and the Netherlands limits the damage.