Oranje make it two 4-0 wins in a row before Euro 2024 with Iceland win
Oranje had the perfect final match before they start the European Championships next Sunday in Germany. Manager Ronald Koeman's side beat Iceland 4-0 on Monday, with the goals being scored by Xavi Simons, Virgil van Dijk, Donyell Malen, and Wout Weghorst in de Kuip in Rotterdam. This was their second 4-0 win a row having beat Canada by the same scoreline on Thursday.
Koeman went with the side expected to start the first group stage match against Poland. This resulted in nine changes from the team that started the win against Canada last Thursday. Only Memphis Depay and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen kept their place in the side. Matters were complicated further when Teun Koopmeiners got injured during the warm-up. He was replaced by PSV midfielder Jerdy Schouten.
Oranje was expecting a difficult task. A few days earlier, Iceland had beaten one of the tournament favorites, England, in London. Although the team has not qualified for the European Championships, it has a reputation for being well-organized and tough to beat.
Depay was Oranje's most dangerous player during the opening stages. The striker's first shot was knocked out for a corner by Iceland goalkeeper Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson. He was alert again a few minutes later, reacting quickest to a rebound. His overhead kick effort went wide on that occasion.
This was just a few minutes before the Netherlands took the lead. Joey Veerman chipped the ball over the defence to Denzel Dumfries, who headed it across goal to Xavi Simons. The Paris Saint Germain player volleyed it into the net from close range to get his first goal for his country.
Oranje were playing very well and had found Iceland's weakness. Another chip over the defence rested in another chance for Depay. The pass found Cody Gakpo, who slid to place the ball across to Depay. A tackle from an Icelandic defender did enough to put Depay off as he sliced the attempt wide.
Veerman's creativity was on full display again in the 38th minute. The PSV midfielder's through ball found Depay once more, but his shot was from a difficult angle and was saved by Valdimarsson.
The home side doubled their lead shortly after the restart. Nathan Ake got the assist as he won a header in the box from a corner like he had done all game. It paid off this time as captain Virgil van Dijk nodded home from close range.
The Netherlands were warned by Iceland that they needed to stay vigilant when Stefan Teitur Thordarsson hit the post with a long distance shot.
Donyell Malen got on the scoresheet when Depay turned creator in the 80th minute with a sublime pass. The Dortmund forward rewarded Depay's pass by finishing the chance and making it 3-0.
A minute later, Depay thought he had finally gotten the goal he had been pushing for all night when he finished a perfect cross from Jeremie Frimpong, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review because Veerman had handballed it in the build-up to the goal.
The last goal of the match was scored in injury time. The ball was chipped over the top to Malen, who only had to lay it off to Weghorst for the goal. It was initially disallowed before the VAR review worked in Oranje's favor.
Oranje will now travel to Germany for the European Championships. They face Poland at 3 p.m. next Sunday in Hamburg. Koeman's side may have been given a more straightforward job after tonight as Poland's star striker Robert Lewandowski went off with an injury in their friendly match against Turkey. This came after their other forwards, Karol Swiderski and Arkediusz Milik, had already gotten injured.
