The Netherlands has a double reason to celebrate: Frenkie de Jong He returned to their ranks, in addition to being a starter, after 433 days of absence and the team led by a happy Ronald Koeman They qualified for the quarterfinals of the Nations League after beating Hungary in a head-to-head match at the Johan Cruyff Arena (4-0).
After Germany, leader of this group 3 of League A and with passage already assured, the Netherlands has 8 points and, with one day left to go, is 3 ahead of Hungary and has also won the ‘average’ particular.
Big scare on the Hungarian bench
The match, in which the winner qualified, began with a major scare. Adam Szalai, former Real Madrid youth player, retired in January 2023 and now a member of the coaching staff of the Hungarian national team, faded on the bench and had to be treated urgently and transferred to the hospital, where he is stable.
Before the incident Hungary was able to advance in a loss of Jan Paul van Hecke who, in his headline debut as international, allowed Dominik Szoboszlai escape. Virgil van Dijk his Liverpool teammate blocked his shot in a providential way but the rebound fell to Andras Schäfer, whose shot from the edge of the box came off the crossbar.
Gil Manzano, to the VAR and Weghorst scores a penalty
The first thing he did Jesus Gil Manzano, After the match had stopped for 13 minutes, even before resuming play, the VAR reviewed a ball that, centered by Cody Gakpohit the arm of Tamas Nikitscher and declared a penalty. Wout Weghorst He opened the scoring by taking the maximum penalty (21′).
Hungary did not seem affected by this eventful start to the match and, shortly after the goal, had the chance to tie with a header from Roland Sallai which did not surprise Bart Verbruggen
De Jong, conductor
But the Netherlands did not hesitate and, with 69% possession. took complete control of the party at the hands of a Frenkie de Jong who served as the perfect orchestra conductor distributing the ball with his characteristic skill.
Denes Dibusz avoided 2-0 with a spectacular save when he tapped a header from the corner Tijani Reijnders. The ‘oranje’, with a dynamic game that sought actions on the wings Denzel Dumfries, Donyell Malen and Gakpo, He had more chances to extend the lead, although Hungary also put him in some trouble on the counterattack, which he resolved well in defense.
Gakpo, also from a penalty
Gil Manzano discounted 13 minutes before the break and, in the 12th, Gakpo made it 2-0 this time being in charge of taking the second penalty of the game after ‘asking’ it to Weghorst. The fault was committed by Zsolt Nagy on Malen.
As soon as the second half started, Weghorst was able to score 3-0 with a magnificent shot that repelled the crossbar. Hungary tried to get into the game with its vertical game, but conceded a third goal that was already definitive. Gakpo, featured all night, He put a cross, the defense rejected it and the ball fell to him. Dumfries, that with a magnificent volley made it 3-0 on the scoreboard (64′).
Koeman retires Frenkie
With the party sentenced, Koeman relieved Frenkie de Jong the hour of play passed to the applause of the fans. The coach had assured the day before that he was not going to start but the Barcelona player, having overcome the blow to his shin against Real Sociedad, returned with flying colours.
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With him the ‘oranje’ gains confidence and is already waiting for a rival in the quarterfinals in next Wednesday’s draw. It will be a group first between Spain, Portugal and Italy or France. Teun Koopmeiners made it 4-0 by perfectly heading a Dumfries cross.
1 22 3 21 2 4 8 14 9 18 11 1 7 18 4 6 3 5 13 19 20 10
Johan Cruijff ArenA
1Bart Verbruggen
Dénes Dibusz1
22Denzel Dumfries 63′
Loic Nego7 74′
3Jurrien Timber 59′ 67′
Zsolt Nagy18
21Frenkie de Jong 67′
Márton Dárdai4 54′
2Jan Paul van Hecke
Willi Orbán6 5′
4Virgil van Dijk
Botond Balogh3
8Ryan Gravenberg 78′
Tamás Nikitscher5
14Tijjani Reijnders
András Schäfer13 74′
9Wout Weghorst 20′
Barnabas Varga19 59′
18Donyell Malen 83′
Roland Sallai20 79′
11Cody Gakpo 56′ 78′
Dominik Szoboszlai10
Substitutes
13Nick Olij
Patrik Demjen12
23Mark Flekken
Peter Szappanos22
5Jorrel Hato 67′
Kornél Szucs2
6Stefan de Vrij
Bendeguz Bolla14
12Jeremie Frimpong 83′
Endre Botka21
15Matthijs de Ligt
Adam Nagy8 74′
17Devyne Rensch
Mihály Kata17
7Mats Wieffer 78′
Kevin Csoboth23 79′
16Quinten Timber
Szabolcs Schön9
20Teun Koopmeiners 67′ 84′
Daniel Gera11 74′
10Noah Lang 78′
Zsombor Gruber15
19Brian Brobbey
Levente Szabó16 59′
Coach
Ronald Koeman
Marco Rossi
