The Netherlands booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Hungary on Saturday.
Two first-half penalties had put the hosts in control before Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners secured second place in Group A3 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
A medical emergency on the Hungary bench saw the game suspended after eight minutes, but play resumed with a Netherlands penalty after a Tamas Nikitscher handball, and Wout Weghorst confidently converted.
Cody Gakpo then doubled their lead from the spot in first-half stoppage time when Zsolt Nagy tripped Donyell Malen in the box, and Denes Dibusz was sent the wrong way once more.
Weghorst whipped a delightful, long-range curler against the crossbar shortly after the restart, but Dumfries would get their third in the 64th minute with a drilled finish across goal into the far-bottom corner.
Koopmeiners rounded off the scoring late on, meeting Dumfries’ inch-perfect cross to power a header past Dibusz and in at the far post, and was denied a second moments later by the post.
Data Debrief: Orange march on
The Netherlands knew they needed to avoid defeat to make it to the last eight in the Nations League, but Ronald Koeman’s side were not going to settle.
They were on the attack from the very start, registering 22 shots as they created 2.92 expected goals.
Dumfries was at the heart of both goals after half-time, and he became the second player in history to score each of his first nine international goals for the Netherlands in the second half, after Pierre van Hooijdonk (also nine).
Q: How did the match outcome impact Hungary’s standing in the competition?
Q: Can you give us an overview of the Netherlands’ performance in their game against Hungary?
Guest 1: The Netherlands had a dominant performance against Hungary, booking their place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League with a comfortable 4-0 victory. They were aggressive from the start and showed no signs of letting up, recording 22 shots and creating 2.92 expected goals during the match. Their two first-half penalties put them in control before Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners secured second place in Group A3 with further goals in the second half. The hosts’ midfielder, Denzel Dumfries, made history by scoring each of his first nine international goals for the Netherlands in the second half. It was a strong display by Ronald Koeman’s side who showed their determination to perform well in the Nations League.
Q: How significant is this victory for the Dutch team?
Guest 2: This victory is significant for the Dutch team for a few reasons. Firstly, it secures their place in the last eight of the Nations League. Secondly, it highlights their strong form leading up to the World Cup, where they will be looking to perform well. Thirdly, it allows them to measure their progress against other national teams, especially with key players like Dumfries and Depay performing well. It’s important for their confidence ahead of the big tournament ahead.
Q: What do you make of the medical emergency that occurred with the Hungary bench?
Guest 1: The medical emergency that occurred with the Hungary bench was a concerning moment during the game. It showed that football can be unpredictable, and players’ health and safety should always be the top priority. Fortunately, the game was able to resume after some time, and both teams were able to finish the match safely.
Q: Cody Gakpo and Denzel Dumfries stood out in this game. Can you tell us more about their performances?
Guest 2: Both Gakpo and Dumfries had impressive performances. Gakpo converted two penalties with confidence, showing his clinical finishing abilities. Meanwhile, Dumfries scored one goal and assisted another, displaying his versatility as a midfielder. He also made history by scoring all his international
