Football news - Defensive calamities undo England as Dutch reach Nations League final
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Updated 06/06/2019 at 22:06 GMT
Nations League semi-final, Estádio D. Afonso Henriques - England 1 (Rashford 32 pen) Netherlands 3 (De Ligt 73, Walker 97 OG, Promes 114)
A dejected Jordan Henderson of England after Netherlands scored a goal to make it 2-1 during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between the Netherlands and England at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on June 6, 2019 in Guimaraes, Portugal
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An extra-time capitulation saw England beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands on Thursday evening as they were knocked out of the inaugural Nations League at the semi-final stage.
Much like the Champions League final on Saturday the game was strewn by errors with England in particular really struggling to complete their passes and hold onto the ball, with the latter a worrying recent trend for Gareth Southgate's side.
Roland Koeman's Dutch team advance to a final with Portugal in Porto while England will remain in Guimaraes to meet Switzerland in the third place play-off on Sunday.
England had gone ahead in the first half, albeit against the run of play, when Marcus Rashford calmly sent Jasper Cillessen the wrong way from the penalty spot after the Manchester United forward was taken out in the box by Matthijs de Ligt.
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Lingard of England celebrates after scoring a goal only for it to be ruled offside by VAR during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between the Netherlands and England at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on June 6, 2019 in Guimaraes, Portugal.
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However that was as good as it got as De Ligt atoned for his mistake by beating John Stones and Kyle Walker from a corner to power a header past Jordan Pickford.
As the game wore on, Southgate turned to his big guns with Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson and then Dele Alli being sent for from the bench and England felt they had a winner seven minutes from time when another substitute, Jesse Lingard, finished off a fine pass from Jadon Sancho only to be called back for offside by VAR.
Southgate then had to watch in horror as his defence gave up two criminal goals in extra-time.
First Stones and then Ross Barkley were caught out, with the Dutch taking advantage and scoring twice through a Walker own-goal and a fine finish from substitute Quincy Promes to condemn England to a bitter and unbelievable finale.
TALKING POINT Dutch upward trajectory continues, more questions for England
After the World Cup Southgate spoke about improving his team on the ball, taking them to the next level. However, this transition hasn't happened, far from it in fact.
The England defence and midfield looked nervous on the ball, regularly getting caught out and failing to retain the ball at all. Southgate's ambitions for the team are admirable, make no mistake about that, but until he has the tools for that style perhaps he is best sticking with the strategy that has brought him success.
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Wijnaldum, Promes, Depay - Netherlands-Enlgand - Nations League 2018-2019 - Getty Images
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By contrast the Dutch revolution under Ronald Koeman continues and whilst there are obvious holes in this team they are a really dangerous unit going forward. Memphis Depay playing in the withdrawn striker role is never going to bring the consistency you crave from him but the way he pulls opposition defences apart is critical for how Koeman wants his team to play. Given the relative age of this team they are going to be a force to be reckoned with next summer in the European Championships.
MAN OF THE MATCH Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands)
Speaking of young players who are comfortable on the ball. In a game where England couldn't use the ball particularly effectively De Jong was a glorious example of how far we have to go.
Just as Luka Modric did last summer De Jong ran the show against England from the middle of the pitch, effortlessly receiving the ball under pressure and making intelligent passes.
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Frenkie de Jong battles for the ball with Raheem Sterling
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De Jong has been hyped up by a large portion of football fans, and it seems that at every opportunity he has to show off his skills he takes it. He's an exceptional young talent and he is going to be a joy to watch for many years to come.
PLAYER RATINGS
- England - Pickford 6,Walker 5, Stones 4, Maguire 4, Chilwell 5, Rice 4, Barkley 5, Delph 4, Sterling 5, Rashford 5, Sancho 5..subs: Kane 5, Henderson 5, Alli 5
- Netherlands - Cillessen 5, Dumfries 5, De Ligt 6, Van Dijk 6, Blind 7, De Roon 5, Wijnaldum 6, De Jong 8, Bergwijn 5, Memphis 6, Babel 4..subs: Promes 7, Van de Beek 6, Strootman 5, Propper 5.
KEY MOMENTS
- 31' - GOAL! ENGLAND 1-0 NETHERLANDS (RASHFORD PENALTY) No problem for Rashford as he sends Cillessen the wrong way. England lead when they possibly haven't been quite at the races.
- 73' - GOAL! ENGLAND 1-1 NETHERLANDS (DE LIGT) It's been coming and he has redeemed himself! Finally a corner comes in as De Ligt powers past Walker and Stones to slam a header past Pickford, brilliant header.
- 83' - GOAL! ENGLAND 2-1 NETHERLANDS (LINGARD) What a move from England! A ruthless counter-attack sees some nice passing, a good backheel and then a brilliant pass from Barkley to release Lingard who slots home. They lead, for now...
- 85' - VAR! GOAL DISALLOWED! Hold your horses! It's been ruled out for Lingard being offside. You've got to love VAR
- 97' - GOAL! ENGLAND 1-2 NETHERLANDS (WALKER OG) Oh dear England. Oh dear. Stones dawdles on the ball and Memphis pounces. Pickford makes an excellent save but Promes got to the loose ball and his effort goes in off Walker. That was terrible.
- 114' - GOAL! ENGLAND 1-3 NETHERLANDS (PROMES) Now Promes gets his goal! England completely capitulate at the back as Promes robs Barkley in the box. The ball goes to Memphis and he slots it back to Promes to fire home. Game, set and match.
KEY STATS
- England have lost three of their last four international matches against the Netherlands (W1 D0 L3).
- England conceded three goals in a competitive international match for the first time since losing 4-1 to Germany at the 2010 World Cup.
- Netherlands have only lost two of their last 15 international matches against England (W6 D7 L2) and lost just one of their six competitive games against the Three Lions (W3 D2 L1).
- Two of England’s last three defeats when leading at half-time have been against the Netherlands (also March 2016) – the other was against Croatia in the World Cup semi-final.
- Marcus Rashford has scored four goals in his last seven international appearances for England – one more than in his first 25 games for England (3).
- Raheem Sterling became the third youngest player to reach 50 caps for England (24y 180d), behind only Wayne Rooney in 2009 (23y 159d) and Michael Owen in 2003 (23y 179d).
- Matthijs de Ligt has scored in each of his last two international appearances for the Netherlands, having scored none in his first 14 beforehand.
- England have scored with 20 of their last 21 penalties (excluding shootouts), with only Harry Kane failing in that time against Turkey in May 2016.
- Kyle Walker became the first England player to score an own goal in an international match since Eric Dier in May 2016 against Australia.
- Tonight was Gareth Southgate’s 34th game in charge of England and his 10th starting XI with an average age of under 25 – the previous 17 managers to take charge of England did this just 10 times in 595 matches combined.
- Memphis Depay has been involved in 23 goals in his last 21 international matches for the Netherlands (13 goals, 10 assists).
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