The Netherlands wakes up too late and has to settle for fourth place


Sunday, June 18, 2023 at 5:01 PM• Tom Rofekamp • Last update: 17:06

The Netherlands failed to conquer third place in the Nations League on Sunday. The team of national coach Ronald Koeman came out very weak in the consolation final, in which Italy eventually triumphed 2-3. ‘Koeman’s second start’ at the Dutch can be called very disappointing. Of the four matches since his return, no less than three were lost.

Koeman already indicated at the press conference that he takes the consolation final ‘very seriously’ and that was evident from his line-up. With the exception of Noa Lang, exactly the same eleven names started as in the lost semi-final against Croatia (2-4). Roberto Mancini did decide to rest a large number of players. The national coach of Italy made no fewer than seven changes, but that did not bother him.

Italy only needed six minutes to take the lead. The Netherlands did not get the ball away after a cross from Federico Dimarco and eventually saw it end up with Giacomo Raspadori. The Napoli attacker put his heel ready for Dimarco, who was still present, who shot into the far intersection out of reach of Justin Bijlow: 0-1. The 0-2 was not long in coming.

Again Dimarco was loose on the left and the Inter defender launched once again towards the penalty area. Mats Wieffer was just unable to intercept the ball and Davide Frattesi had to allow the margin to double. The the Dutch did very little to counter that and only got its first chance five minutes before tea. Xavi Simons gave the ball with a nice movement in the course of Cody Gakpo, who, however, did not get the ball between the posts from close range.

Koeman decided to intervene after the break and to make no fewer than three substitutions. In: Wout Weghorst, Steven Bergwijn and Georginio Wijnaldum; from: Noa Lang, Donyell Malen and Geertruida. The switches took effect immediately. The the Dutch came out fresher in the second half, which resulted in the tying goal in the 68th minute. A cross from Gakpo ended up via an Italian head at Bergwijn, who cut out his opponent and shot in with his left: 1-2.

Almost immediately, however, Italy recovered the margin again. Virgil van Dijk was childishly trumped by substitute Federico Chiesa, who outwitted Bijlow from a difficult angle after a scissors movement: 1-3. The final phase had a lot of interesting things going for it. Joey Veerman first made his international debut, before Weghorst saw a line through the tying goal due to offside. It still came. Veerman gave a brilliant through ball to Wijnaldum, who showed his sharpness and worked into the roof of the goal. However, the Dutch did not come further.