Football: Depay at the double as Dutch cruise to win over Montenegro in World Cup qualifiers

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS (REUTERS) - Memphis Depay scored twice to guide the Netherlands to a first win following the return of coach Louis van Gaal with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Montenegro in their World Cup Group G qualifier in Eindhoven on Saturday (Sept 4). Depay slotted a first-half penalty and added a second goal after the break to take his recent tally to nine in as many games for the Dutch, who also scored through Georginio Wijnaldum and a first international strike for Cody Gakpo. They are second in Group G midway through qualification with 10 points from five games, one point behind leaders Turkey and on the same number as third-placed Norway. Only the top team qualifies automatically for the finals in Qatar next year. Netherlands host Turkey in Amsterdam in a potentially key game on Tuesday, while Norway are at home to minnows Gibraltar. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Croatia beat Slovakia with late Brozovic strike   Related Story Football: France's winless run continues with Ukraine draw

Football: Dutch draw with Norway in meek World Cup qualifier start under new coach Van Gaal

OSLO (REUTERS) - The Netherlands were forced to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on Wednesday (Sept 1), an inauspicious start for new coach Louis van Gaal. Erling Haaland put the Norwegians ahead after 20 minutes but Davy Klaassen equalised 17 minutes later to earn the Dutch a share of the spoils in an untidy Group G clash at the Ullevaal Stadium. The result left the Netherlands, who have seven points from four matches, behind Turkey in the standings. Unbeaten Turkey, held to a 2-2 draw by Montenegro on Wednesday, moved on to eight points while Norway are on seven but behind the Netherlands on goal difference. Haaland netted his eighth goal in 14 internationals with typically enterprising ability, bringing down an errant clearance with his back to goal and turning to steer the ball home in the 20th minute, despite a despairing tackle from Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch equalised when Georginio Wijnaldum's cross from the right wing was steered home by Klaassen after Norway's defence had failed to clear. Klaassen had a similar chance on the stroke of half-time and Van Dijk's header straight afterwards was saved on the line by Norway goalkeeper Andre Hansen. The Dutch held the upper hand after the break but a Norwegian counter-attack on the hour mark saw captain Martin Odegaard feed Haaland on his left foot and the 21-year-old striker hit the woodwork with a clever effort that sought to catch out Dutch goalkeeper Justin Bijlow, who was making his debut, at the near post. The Dutch might have won it with the last kick of the match but Denzil Dumfries did not get enough power on to his effort and Hansen was able to keep the ball out. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Dynamic Denmark sink Scotland to stay top of group The Netherlands were hoping for a positive start under the 70-year-old Van Gaal, who has taken on the national team job for a third time but had just two days to work with his side before Wednesday's qualifier. He replaces Frank de Boer after a disappointing European Championship where they went out in the last 16 to the Czech Republic. "It was a very disappointing result in a frustrating match," said Memphis Depay on Dutch television. "We didn't apply enough pressure and lacked creativity." The Netherlands are next at home to Montenegro in Eindhoven on Saturday while Norway travel to meet Latvia the same day. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Record-breaking Ronaldo rescues Portugal with late double   Related Story Football: Griezmann scores but 10-man France held by Bosnia

Football: Czech Republic stun 10-man Netherlands to seal quarter-final berth

BUDAPEST (REUTERS) - Striker Patrik Schick scored his fourth goal of the tournament as the Czech Republic stunned 10-man Netherlands with a deserved 2-0 victory in their European Championship last-16 clash in front of 56,000 fans at the Puskas Arena on Sunday (June 27). The Czechs created the better chances against their more fancied opponents in the frenzied atmosphere and booked a quarter-final meeting with Denmark in Baku on Saturday when Tomas Holes headed in at the back post in the 68th minute after Tomas Kalas had steered the ball into his path. Holes then turned provider as he set up Schick for a second, the striker slotting the ball coolly past veteran Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to continue his dream tournament. The Dutch challenge was dealt a blow on 55 minutes when centre back Matthijs De Ligt received a red card for a handball just outside his own box. He was initially given a yellow card, but referee Sergei Karasev changed his mind after a Video Assistant Referee check. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Czech Republic hold Croatia to close in on Euro last 16   Related Story Football: Czechs beat Albania 3-1 in last Euro 2020 warm-up

Football: Netherlands beat North Macedonia 3-0 to complete clean sweep in Group C

AMSTERDAM (REUTERS) - Georginio Wijnaldum scored a second-half double as the Netherlands defeated North Macedonia 3-0 to keep their perfect record on their way to the European Championship knockout stages on Monday (June 21). The Netherlands had already sealed top spot in Group C after beating Ukraine and Austria, and they will play their last-16 game in Budapest on Sunday against one of the best third-placed finishers from Groups D, E or F. North Macedonia, who were out of contention for the last 16 after back-to-back defeats, made a much-improved start as Ivan Trickovski's early strike was ruled out for offside before Aleksandar Trajkovski smacked the post from 20 yards. But Igor Angelovski's side were soon caught out by a stunning Dutch counterattack when PSV Eindhoven forward Donyell Malen charged upfield to set up Memphis Depay, who slotted it home for his second goal of the tournament. Wijnaldum doubled the Dutch advantage with a tap in from close range and added a third just before the hour mark to put the result beyond doubt in front of a partisan crowd at the Johan Cruyff Arena. North Macedonia's Goran Pandev received a guard of honour from his team mates when he was substituted off about 10 minutes later, in what he has said would be his final appearance for his country. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Blow for the Dutch as injury forces Van de Beek out of Euro 2020   Related Story Football: Van Dijk rules himself out of Netherlands squad for Euro 2020

Football: Donny van de Beek strike earns Netherlands friendly draw with Spain

AMSTERDAM (REUTERS) - The Netherlands drew 1-1 at home to Spain in a friendly on Wednesday (Nov 11) after Donny van de Beek cancelled out an earlier strike from Sergio Canales. Netherlands' Manchester City defender Nathan Ake was forced off early in the game with a muscle injury while Spain's Jose Gaya also came off in the first half, after a clash of heads with Hans Hateboer. Canales struck his first goal for Spain to open the scoring in the 19th minute, latching on to a pass from Alvaro Morata and firing low into the net. Manchester United midfielder Van de Beek levelled early in the second half, beating Spain's debutant keeper Unai Simon at the near post. Luis Enrique's side had dominated the first half but the Netherlands bossed the second and missed two clear chances to win the match. Simon thwarted captain Memphis Depay from close range with a low dive but the forward should really have put the chance away, while Luuk de Jong spurned a late foray into the area, losing control of the ball and allowing Spain's defenders to get back.