Netherlands 2-0 France
That’s what they call Double Dutch!
This UEFA Nations League result will do wonders for Oranje who played with a swagger and style comparable to many of the Dutch greats of yesteryear.
They have endured four years of misery since Louis van Gaal guided them to a third-place finish at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
But this morale-boosting scoreline against the world champions, fresh on the back of an emphatic win over the 2014 world champions, has put the country on a high again.
It also surprised many SBOBET fans that went against many UEFA Nations League 2018 betting odds, not to mention my pre-match betting tip.
Highlights of the game
Few inside the De Kuip in Rotterdam could begrudge the Dutch national team this victory.
In fact, if not for French skipper Hugo Lloris, the winning margin would have been wider.
And there can few better times to score than when Holland did find a way past Lloris.
Firstly, a minute before half-time, after he parried a Ryan Babel effort, Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum pounced from close range on the rebound.
Then, deep into stoppage time at the end of the contest, Moussa Sissoko’s poor touch let in Frenkie de Jong who the Spurs man then fouled in the penalty area — and up stepped a rejuvenated Memphis Depay to seal the points.
Wijnaldum and Depay had gone closest from the outset. Although the French, missing the injured Paul Pogba but backed by a vociferous away support, had their own moments.
Jasper Cillessen denied Antoine Griezmann early on during a rare French foray and Babel, sporting a bright red hairstyle, headed a Blaise Matuidi snapshot off the line.
Matuidi and Steven Nzonzi both saw efforts blocked but Holland had the clear edge. Moments after Babel had been denied, Wijnaldum broke the deadlock.
After the restart Babel (again), Virgil van Dijk and Denzel Dumfries came closest to adding a second. Lloris was the only reason Didier Deschamp’s men kept in touch.
For a brief time, it did look like his heroics and some late French pressure may force an equaliser, but Holland held firm.
In the closing stages, a Lloris fingertip save kept out de Jong. The young Ajax starlet was stopped unfairly moments later as Depay nonchalantly dinked the ball over Lloris from the resulting spot-kick – one of the UEFA Nations League 2018 highlights so far.
It was just rewarding for Ronaldo Koeman’s men who had come out of the blocks with greater energy from the start and were rewarded with a result which further increases home belief in the national side.
It was also another display from Depay, which showed why van Gaal signed the promising young talent after he left Holland for Manchester United.
It remains a mystery to many why it did not quite work out for the now 24 year-old at Old Trafford. Indeed it was the right move at the wrong time for a player who is now shining for Lyon in Lique 1.
He is certainly flying now.
So are Holland.
The future is bright. Perhaps it’s Oranje!
Key statistics
This result ended France’s 15 match unbeaten run. It also relegated Germany from the group (Group A1), although it is hardly critical as far as Euro 2020 qualifying is concerned.
Holland are the first side to have beaten Les Bleus since they were crowned world champions in July.
This was Wijnaldum’s 10th international goal.
It also means he has scored for Holland in successive games for the first time in 20 games.
This was Depay’s 23rd goal (combined for club and country) in the calendar year.
In total, he has been directly involved in 41 goals in 52 matches for club and country in 2018, which includes 23 goals and 18 assists.
Top of Form
What’s next?
Holland now travel to arch rivals, and what could be a wound-up Germany, in Gelsenkirchen where a draw would see them win the group.
That would take Koeman’s side into next June’s Nations League finals – at the expense of France, who had only needed a point here to seal top spot.
The winners of each group are also guaranteed a Euro 2020 play-off place if they fail to progress from qualification next year.
France are back in action in an international friendly at home to Uruguay.
Those games round off 2018 for both nations.
Their 2019 fixtures will be announced in due course.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
