Oranje

In a difficult match between Oranje and Northern Ireland in the Kuip in Rotterdam, the Dutch team booked an important victory in the final phase of the European Championship qualification on Thursday. Thanks to goals by substitute Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay, Oranje won 3-1, putting the team in the lead of group C. The Dutch footballers and coach Ronald Koeman are relieved.

The Irishmen were first on the score board. Depay brought the score up to 1-1. The last two goals were scored in injury time, one by Depay, one by De Jong. 

Oranje has its football groove back, as shown by the recent friendly wins over Estonia and Germany. The success is due to the fact that Oranje is much more united today than it was in earlier periods, said attacker Ryan Babel, who scored two goals against Estonia on Monday, referring to the Big 4 footballers' egos, Voetbalzone reports.

Disappointed, but proud. Those three words sum up the emotions of the Oranje Lionesses after their 2-0 loss against the United States in the World Cup final in Lyon on Sunday. "Sure there is disappointment, but we had a fantastic tournament. This is now the result, and I am very proud", goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal said to NOS. 

The Oranje Lionesses and their fans are elated by the Dutch team's progression to the World Cup Final after a 1-0 victory over Sweden on Wednesday. "Not normal, hey", Jackie Groenen, who scored the winning goal, said to NOS after the match. "We worked so hard, it's nice to play in this team. That I scored doesn't matter, it's more important that we won and that we are in the final."

Groenen praised the team spirit among the Oranje Lionesses. "We have a team that is there for each other and that works."

Excitement is in the air as the Dutch women’s football team gear up to face Sweden in the 2019 FIFA World Cup semi-finals match on Wednesday.

This is the first ever semi-final spot for Oranje Leeuwinnen and their second appearance in the 28-year history of the World Cup – their first being in 2015. To secure the coveted spot, Oranje dominated Italy in last Saturday’s match, emerging with a 2-0 win after only scoring in the final 20 minutes of the game.

A controversial penalty in the 90th minute of the Dutch women's national football team match against Japan handed Oranje a 2-1 victory at the Stade de la Route de Lorient in Rennes, France on Tuesday night. The victory in the last Round of 16 match in the 2019 World Cup sends the OranjeLeeuwinnen through to the quarterfinals, where they play Italy on Saturday.

Striker Lieke Martens scored both of the Dutch team's goals. She was named Player of the Match for her efforts in front of a packed stadium that included thousands of orange-clad Dutch fans. 

The Dutch national football team advanced to the Nations League final after a victory over England in Portugal on Thursday. Oranje beat the English team 3-1 at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, thanks to two goals scored in extra time, NU.nl reports.

England's one and only goal was a penalty scored by Marcus Rashford, after a foul by Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt. He lost the ball in his own sixteen and then committed a foul on Rashford. De Ligt made up for that mistake by scoring Oranje's first goal in the second half. 

The Netherlands will play against Germany in one of its qualifying matches for the UEFA Euro 2020. UEFA announced the groups for the qualifiers on Sunday. The Netherlands drew Germany, Northern Ireland, Estonia and Belarus.

The qualifiers will start on March 21st next year. The top two teams from each of the ten groups will qualify. An additional play-off will then determine the four remaining teams who will play in the tournament. 

British football association FA released a statement condemning English football fans' behavior in Amsterdam around a friendly match between the Dutch and English teams on Friday. Around 100 British football fans were arrested in the Dutch capital on Thursday and Friday, mostly for disrupting public order, according to RTL Nieuws.

Most of the arrested supporters have since been fined and sent home, according to the broadcaster.

Footballer Robin van Persie may return to the Dutch national team under new coach Ronald Koeman. Koeman is keeping the possibility open, he said to broadcaster NOS.

"If he shows the necessary fitness and shows that he is still one of the best... Then who am I not to select him. Age does not matter, what matters is what they show", Koeman said.

Dick Advocaat resigned as coach of Dutch national football team Oranje, he announced after Oranje won a match against Romania 0-3 on Tuesday.  He already decided that he would step down if the Netherlands didn't make it to the World Cup, he said, according to RTL Nieuws. "The main reason I'm leaving is that I find it time for another generation. The younger people must take over at Oranje."