Tijjani Reijnders was the star performer in Eindhoven. He scored the 2-0 in the first half. – Photo: KNVB Media
What joy. What energy. For the Orange fans in the Philips Stadium and at home in front of the TV it was a party to see the Dutch national team (m) at work against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday. An exciting match that also produced a solid result, because with the 5-2 victory the Orange made a flying start in the Nations League 2024/’25.
Almost two months after the lost semi-final at the European Championship against England, a new phase dawned for the Dutch team on this September evening in Eindhoven. The start of the fourth edition of the Nations League, with the 2026 World Cup as the ultimate goal, also really felt like a new beginning.
This was mainly due to the absence of a large number of familiar names. Such as Daley Blind who himself decided it was enough after 108 international matches. And Georginio Wijnaldum, Marten de Roon and Steven Bergwijn who national coach Ronald Koeman no longer calls upon for various reasons. Memphis Depay, Stefan de Vrij, Joey Veerman, Frenkie de Jong, Teun Koopmeiners and Mats Wieffer and Micky van de Ven were also absent.
The starting line-up of the Dutch national team for the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Curious
That created space for two relatively new internationals. Joshua Zirkzee was allowed to show himself as a striker, while Ryan Gravenberch was given a place in midfield. It created curiosity. What could they, representatives of a new generation, achieve on the international stage?
National coach Koeman was also curious about that. Although the selector had also clearly focused on the result. After all, an extra round in the form of the quarter-finals has been added to the Nations League, which means that the tournament for the numbers one and two from the group will continue. With Germany, Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina as opponents, that offers perspective.
Koeman got it all. A good result, a well-playing team and above all a lot of good energy. With the best phase being the first fifteen minutes after the break when Oranje created one chance after another. Tijjani Reijnders and Cody Gakpo provided the depth, Xavi Simons did the passing and Zirkzee was the forward who played along and immediately combined.
Here comes the 1-0 from Joshua Zirkzee. With his back to the goal he heads the ball into the net via the post.
Goal en assist Zirkzee
Zirkzee also scored. Barely 13 minutes were left on the clock when the 23-year-old from Schiedam put the 1-0 on the scoreboard. A deflected shot from Simons landed right at the striker who found the inside of the post with a backward header. And Zirkzee also provided an assist. In injury time of the first half he found Reijnders who launched himself with an acceleration towards the Bosnian goal and shot in. Five minutes earlier, that same Reijnders was unlucky when his curled shot exploded on the crossbar. Gakpo and Dumfries also came close to a goal in that swinging first half.
The only blemish in the first half of the match was the equalizer of the Bosnians in the 27th minute. With three passes through the axis the ball was behind goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. In particular the last pass to goal scorer Demirovic, between De Ligt and Van Dijk, raised eyebrows for a moment. Although few were really worried with a view to the second half. This Oranje played with so much energy that the 2-1 score would certainly be extended after the break.
Tijjani Reijnders on fire: here he speeds past Nihad Mujakic.
Dangerous moments
That happened. Immediately after the break, Oranje continued in the same vein and Reijnders, Van Dijk and Zirkzee had good opportunities. Cody Gakpo actually pulled the trigger in the 56th minute and scored the 3-1 on an assist from Dumfries. Halfway through the second half, Koeman brought in three fresh forces. Donyell Malen, Lutsharel Geertruida and Jurriën Timber replaced Gakpo, Dumfries and Aké. That went without problems for 5 minutes until a miss by De Ligt offered veteran Dzeko a golden opportunity: 3-2.
Suddenly the Netherlands lost the plot and a number of dangerous moments arose in front of Verbruggen’s goal. Surely the Dutch team would not give this away? Fortunately, thanks to substitutes Quinten Timber and Wout Weghorst, that did not happen. In the 88th minute, Weghorst provided the liberating 4-2. Simpel tapped the supersub the rebound after a shot from Timber in the goal. In injury time, Simons increased the score even further, which allowed the Dutch to eventually make a lap of honour around the fans with a comfortable 5-2 victory.
The Timber twins, together in Orange. On the left Quinten, on the right Jurriën.
Tuesday against Germany
All in all a nice football evening that offers Koeman and his technical staff enough perspective for the upcoming international matches. Although both unnecessary goals against will also have their attention. Next Tuesday the Dutch team will continue in this Nations League. Then Germany will be the second opponent. That match in the Johan Cruijff ArenA will start at 20:45. Joshua Zirkzee will not be at the kick-off. Koeman already revealed before the match that Brian Brobbey will be preferred as striker.
Statistics Here you will find the lineups and statistics of the Nations League match Netherlands – Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Reactions Reactions from Joshua Zirkzee, Tijjani Reijnders and national coach Ronald Koeman.
