Wout Weghorst saved the Netherlands heading in the right direction for Euro 2024 as he got here off the bench to bag the decisive aim in his facet’s 2-1 win towards the Republic of Eire on Sunday. Ronald Koeman’s group suffered an early shock when Adam Idah’s penalty put Eire forward in Dublin of their Group B sport. However Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo netted a penalty quickly after and the guests wrapped up the factors because of Weghorst’s second half strike.
At present on mortgage at German facet Hoffenheim from Premier League membership Burnley, the towering Weghorst’s introduction on the interval proved a masterstroke by Koeman.
Weghorst had scored within the victory towards Greece on Thursday and he confirmed no indicators of sulking regardless of being initially left on the bench on the Aviva Stadium.
A 3rd win from their 4 Group B matches lifted the Netherlands into second place, six factors behind leaders France with a sport in hand.
The highest two will qualify for subsequent yr’s European Championship in Germany and Koeman’s males are answerable for their very own future.
They’ve a sport in hand on third positioned Greece, who’re stage on factors with the Dutch, and sit six factors forward of Eire.
Overwhelmed in 4 of their 5 matches, Stephen Kenny’s hosts look sure to overlook out on a spot on the Euros.
After failed bids to achieve the Euros two years in the past and final yr’s World Cup, it’s shaping as much as be one other grim qualification marketing campaign for the Irish.
– ‘Not my determination’ –
“To beat the most effective groups in Europe it’s important to see out these troublesome intervals and we did not try this for the second aim,” the under-fire Kenny stated.
“We have got two matches in October and after that it is definitely not my determination (to stay supervisor). We’ll need to see if we’ve got a play-off. There’s nonetheless an opportunity.”
Eire’s defeat towards France on Thursday had put them in bother within the group, leaving followers hoping for a repeat of their well-known victory over Holland of their final aggressive assembly 22 years in the past.
Desperately needing a quick begin to put the Netherlands below strain, the Republic obtained precisely that within the fourth minute.
Virgil van Dijk was penalised for handball as he challenged to clear James McClean’s nook.
The Liverpool captain complained however referee Irfan Peljto ignored his protests as Norwich striker Idah fired dwelling from the spot.
It was the most recent controversial second involving Van Dijk, who was despatched off for a foul on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak not too long ago and earned an additional sport suspension for his indignant response to the choice.
Van Dijk’s blushes had been spared by his Liverpool team-mate Gakpo within the nineteenth minute.
Eire keeper Gavin Bazunu tripped Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries and Gakpo held his nerve to transform the penalty for his second aim in his final two video games.
Effectively on prime after that, Koeman’s facet took the lead because of Weghorst within the 56th minute.
Frenkie De Jong discovered Dumfries with a lofted go and when he turned the ball throughout aim, former Manchester United loanee Weghorst was completely positioned to fit dwelling.
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