Shame on orange cheeks. While the path to the final was open, he had already died at the first real hurdle. In the 1/8 finals, the Czech Republic was too strong for the Netherlands 0-2. A red card was given to Matthias de Ligt, on the advice of the VAR, with the drama.
Netherlands – Czech Republic in a nutshell:
- key moment: This is how fast things can go in football: Malin has 1-0 up the foot, but is failing. Immediately after that, De Ligt takes on red, the beginning of the end for orange.
- man of the match: Weakness of the right man in the right place: Thomas Holz crowned himself with a goal and an assist as the match-winner for the Czechs.
- Special: Despite a few offensive motives, especially in the first half, Holland failed to get a single shot between the rolls.
View summary:
No equal goals in the first half
In crowded Puskás Aréna, the Netherlands got off to the best start, with plenty of depth and people walking into the back of the defence. Only in the area of truth did not immediately succeed. Dumfries and Van Anholt threatened from the wings, but could not find a teammate in front of goal.
After about twenty minutes, the Czech Republic entered the match a little better. Soucek was the first to put his nose in the window with his head flying past. Seven minutes before the break, the Netherlands escaped from behind: Barak appeared alone in front of Stecklenburg firing 0-1 to the foot, but that did not count on De Ligt’s outstretched leg.
Just before the break, Holland had to threaten again. A pass from Dumfries was intercepted by the goalkeeper, kicking Van Anholt away from offside.
Video: Red for De Ligt
Elimination De Ligt is the beginning of the end for Orange
At the start of the second half, things went completely wrong for the Netherlands. First Malin failed head-to-head with the Czech goalkeeper, and immediately afterwards De Ligt started playing the other side as the last player, who was inevitably punished with red after an intervention from the VAR.
With ten of them, Orange suddenly faced a very difficult task. The Dutch were still able to keep pace with the Czech Republic, but had to surrender twenty minutes before the end. A high free kick in front of goal was directed by Kallas again, as Halls poised 0-1 from close range.
A big blow to the Netherlands, who had previously thought they were the finalists, but are now suddenly on the verge of disqualification. Ten minutes before the end, the cunning Czech perfectly finished the task: Holes now played the announcer and offered a check at 0-2. Drama for the Netherlands, a big party for the Czech Republic, which can prepare for the quarter-final against Denmark.
Mulder is harsh in his analysis: “The Netherlands shot themselves.”
Wijnaldum: ‘Going home now is too painful’
Georginio Wijnaldum talks about a holiday in the Netherlands. “After the red card we were under. We couldn’t keep the ball in the team anymore. It became difficult to put pressure and we couldn’t get out.”
“It’s strange that we are out now, especially because we are growing up in the tournament. Before the European Championships, there was a lot of criticism of our match, but we turned it around in the group stage. It is very painful that we are going home now.”
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Schick puts 0-2 on the board with his fourth goal of the tournament