The Netherlands, after their draw in Germany (2-2), on Monday night deprived les Bleus, world champions of a qualification for the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League.
The “Orange” are back! After four years of misfortune, the Netherlands qualified on Monday after an unlikely match for the semi-finals of the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League to the detriment of France, snatching a draw 2-2 to the Germany in Gelsenkirchen.
2-0 five minutes from the end of regulation time, the Dutch scored twice in quick succession by Quincy Promes (85 th ) and their captain Virgil van Dijk in injury time (90 + 1).
Germany had started well, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes, by Timo Werner (9th) and Leroy Sané (20th ).
In front of France at goal-average
In the final standings, the Netherlands have 7 points as the French but ahead of the Blues on all of their two games (2-1 in the first leg for France, 2-0 in return for the Netherlands ) .
The “Orange” will play the final tournament of this new competition in June in Portugal, with Portugal, England and Switzerland. Didier Deschamps and his men will watch them on television.
Germany, meanwhile, pays the reluctance of his coach Joachim Löw to renew the frames in September and October, and finishes last in the group with 2 points. She will play the next League of Nations in Group B.
This young Dutch team put in place for some months by coach Ronald Koeman is reaping the fruits of his audacity and enthusiasm, but also of his patience. Because she was mistreated on Monday night by a rejuvenated and proud Germany, who wanted to end with a positive result the worst year of its history.
🎙️#GERNED La joie de héros 🍊 Virgil van Dijk!#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/joR7DFx77A
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2020) 19 November 2018
“Show our character”
Koeman expected a difficult night: “I think the match against Germany will be more difficult than the one against France for us, because France is a team waiting, while Germany is a team that attacks He had predicted.
“But we will have to show our character, enter the match with the idea of winning it. I do not think we will have to defend, we will have to play our game, that is, to attack, “he said.
Koeman had trusted the winning group of world champions 2-0 three days earlier, renewing nine of the eleven players. Only changes: Tete replaced Dumfries in defense and Promes took the place of Bergwijn in attack.
Yet it was the young Germans who attacked for 85 minutes, forcing the Koeman’s boys to defend.
Joachim Loew’s men after their two goals, continued to play, and after the break had several opportunities to kill the game, Werner (46th and 62nd ), which failed narrowly enter a doubled Sane (72nd ) or Schulz (81st ).
Meanwhile, the Dutch failed to find the fault, and they had to wait until the 78 th minute to create their first real opportunity: a spectacular slalom Memphis Depay in the German defense, and an angled shot which forced Neuer at his first parade.
Then it was the miracle of the last five minutes. Promed first, then the brave captain van Dijk, who blew up the square of supporters “Orange” many in Gelsenkirchen, located less than an hour from the border between the two countries.
This young and talented Dutch team continues its journey. The UEFA Nations League is not yet a major competition, but Depay and his friends Jong, Babel and other Ligt have made an appointment for the future.
#NationsLeague | Les 4⃣ fantastiques
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🇨🇭 @SFV_ASF• Phase finale 3-6 juin 2019 à Porto 🇵🇹
• Tirage lundi 3 déc. 14h30 à Dublin 🇮🇪Qui va brandir ce trophée? pic.twitter.com/cCbz64anTU
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2020) 19 November 2018
