Netherlands wins first match with Koeman
*Score: Depay 23', Ake 50' 82'. Red card: Walker 51'.
After losing 0-4 to France in his first game in charge, Koeman replaced four positions. Matthijs De Ligt and Denzel Dumfries are back in defence. Mats Wieffer plays in the center of a three-man midfield and Man Utd striker Wout Weghorst plays at the center of a 4-3-3 formation.
Many people look forward to the venting of "Orange whirlwind" against an opponent who is only ranked 200th on the FIFA table. However, things were not easy for the Netherlands, although the ball almost only rolled in the Gibraltar field. In the 23rd minute, the home team opened the scoring after a somewhat simple combination. Dumfries crosses from the right. Memphis Depay bounced high, headed home to score when goalkeeper Dayle Coleing was out of bounds.
50,000 spectators came to De Kuip stadium with Dutch flags in their hands to support the home team even though they had just lost three days before. This seems to make Koeman more confident and constantly go to the edge to urge his students. However, the home team could not score more goals in the first half despite possessing good opportunities.
Georginio Wijnaldum volleyed narrowly over the bar before Weghorst missed two good chances. The 30-year-old striker shot out from a distance of about 7 meters. Not long after, his shot could not overcome the reflex of goalkeeper Coleing.
At the beginning of the second half, the Netherlands widened the gap. In a phase to join the attack, Ake was in the right place to receive a cross from Dumfries. His header hit the edge of the post into the net. Although the students were excited about the second table, Koeman grimaced, showing his displeasure.
Right in the next serve, away midfielder Liam Walker received a red card directly for stepping on Wieffer's foot. Playing more than people, the Netherlands scored one more goal at the end of the game. Ake's long shot hit the foot of a Gibraltar player who changed direction, making Coleing unable to react.
Winning 3-0 against a weak opponent may not be a satisfactory result for Dutch fans. But looking at the statistics, Koeman's teachers and students didn't play well. According to Opta, they hit 50 shots and had 101 touches in the Gibraltar penalty area, both the highest in Dutch games since the data was collected in August 2013.
This result helps the Netherlands extend their unbeaten run at home to 15. They climb to third B in Euro 2024 qualifying, equal on points but behind Greece due to a poor goal difference.
