NOS Football•
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Jesse Wieten
editor of the Dutch national team
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Jesse Wieten
editor of the Dutch national team
View the summary of the Netherlands – Hungary
With a 4-0 victory over Hungary and qualification for the quarter-finals of the Nations League, the Dutch national team achieved its goal tonight. Furthermore, it was a strange evening, with the importance of the match already being put into perspective in the eighth minute.
Suddenly the Hungarian assistant national coach Ádám Szalai was lying on the ground in front of the Hungarian reserve bench. The unwell former international was immediately treated and then taken away on a stretcher, surrounded by a hedge of players and staff from both countries.
When it was clear that Szalai was conscious and could be transported to hospital, referee Jesús Gil Manzano allowed the match to resume after consultation with the Hungarian players. He did this by watching the video footage of an almost forgotten handball by Tamas Nikitscher.
The Dutch team was awarded a penalty and it was shot in by Wout Weghorst. The striker was preferred in this match to Brian Brobbey (bench) and Joshua Zirkzee (stands) and immediately scored a goal in his first starting position of the calendar year.
While the Hungarians had barely recovered from the shock, Weghorst celebrated his goal exuberantly and with his usual imitation of a lion’s claws. It was Weghorst’s sixth international goal of 2024, making him top scorer of the calendar year.
Bad start with Hungarian chances
For the Dutch team, the match had started poorly before the forced interruption. Within fifteen seconds, the visitors were immediately dangerous after a moment of sleep by Jurriën Timber, among others, although Loïc Négo was flagged for offside.
Moments later, Jan Paul van Hecke handed in the ball in his first starting appearance in the Dutch team, after which Dominik Szoboszlai took advantage and András Schäfer shot over the goal. Van Hecke, defender of Brighton & Hove Albion, was given the opportunity by Koeman because of his strength in possession.
Frenkie de Jong, back in the Dutch team after fourteen months of absence, also got stuck with one of his first dribbles and the Dutch team got off to a false start. Standing from the sidelines, national coach Ronald Koeman’s annoyance was visible.
Koeman used the forced break due to the Hungarian emergency not only to be informed of the medical situation, but also to give his team instructions to do better after the restart.
Weghorst strikes immediately after the interruption
That plan succeeded. After the restart and Weghorst’s goal, the Netherlands got into the match better and De Jong increasingly left his mark on the match, with some good passes to Denzel Dumfries and Cody Gakpo, among others. Although the Dutch team made some mistakes defensively.
De Jong’s midfield companions, Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders, stood out with some strong rushes and passing actions. Due to the Hungarian emergency, thirteen minutes of injury time were added and the Dutch team received another penalty.
The penalty was given after a foul by Zsolt Nagy on right winger Donyell Malen. Weghorst wanted to take the penalty again, but this time Gakpo grabbed the ball. Koeman watched the spectacle with a questioning look and hand gestures. Gakpo shot in convincingly.
After the break, Weghorst gave the starting shot with a swipe from outside the penalty area at the intersection. After a few Hungarian teases, Dumfries decided the match with a beautiful diagonal volley into the far corner, assisted by Malen.
Substitutes ensure a pleasant ending, Koopmeiners scores
Moments later, Malen was close to making it 4-0, but his header hit the outside of the post. Jorrel Hato and year-old Mats Wieffer (25) came into the team as substitutes and Teun Koopmeiners (for De Jong) made his return to the Dutch team. With Noa Lang and Jeremie Frimpong also involved, the match went to the end.
The substitutes were looking forward to it and gave the team a boost. Koopmeiners, who has not yet been accurate at Juventus this season, beautifully headed in the 4-0 from a Dumfries cross and moments later the left foot hit the crossbar.
For example, the Dutch team recorded convincing figures without playing convincingly. After three international matches without a win, against Germany (2-2), Hungary (1-1) and Germany again (1-0 loss), the victory came at just the right time.
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