(Football news) Netherlands are already three points behind its hosts in the standings, but a victory at home by at least four goals might guarantee Gus Poyet’s team a spot in the top two. its guests are suffering from a lack of confidence.
Even though scoring four goals seems improbable, Greece is getting closer to making their first trip to the Euros since they advanced to the 2012 quarterfinals; the last time they played in the tournament was in 2008, when they were eliminated in the group stage during their historic 2004 title defence.
In an attempt to repeat their thrilling victory over the Republic of Ireland four months prior, Poyet’s team travelled to Dublin on Friday. Following a number of early scares, including a strike by Evan Ferguson onto the woodwork, the visitors started to apply pressure.
After 20 minutes, Dimitrios Pelkas’s scuffed shot fell to Georgios Masouras, who doubled Greece’s lead with the last play of the first half. Kostas Tsimikas’s cross found Georgios Giakoumakis, who headed a strong header beyond a stranded Gavin Bazunu.
With three points separating them from Finals-bound France, the Pirate Ship secured their second-placed position in Group B by comfortably holding off a lacklustre Irish XI during the second half of the match. Poyet’s team would join Les Bleus in Germany with one game remaining if they unexpectedly defeated the Netherlands.
Though the Pirate Ships only have three points more than the Dutch after one more game and will also have to host section leaders France in their final Group B match next month, all is not lost for the Greeks just yet. Even in the worst-case scenario, Poyet’s team will qualify for the playoffs.
The Dutch plans for France’s visit to Amsterdam on Friday were thrown off by an unwanted glut of injuries, but even a fully-fit team would have struggled to contain an on-song Kylian Mbappe, who made goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s senior international debut something to remember.
A debut goal from Quilindschy Hartman, who beat Mike Maignan at his near post, was merely consolation in a 2-1 loss. The Paris Saint-Germain striker volleyed home from Jonathan Clauss’s cross after just seven minutes. In the second half, he picked out the top corner with an outrageous curling strike.
The Netherlands is now third in a five-team group in Group B after suffering their second defeat in five games, despite still having games against Ireland and Gibraltar to come. Mbappe undoubtedly had the last laugh after Oranje manager Ronald Koeman made a veiled jab at the Frenchman for PSG’s crushing of Newcastle United.
As with Greece, the Netherlands, who qualified for and hosted the finals of last year’s competition but were forced to settle for fourth place due to defensive shortcomings, will also have their Nations League achievements to fall back on if their hopes of finishing in the top two fade.
But in last month’s qualification, Oranje won 8 out of 10 against the Pirate Ship; the team’s only victory over the 2010 World Cup champions came in a friendly. Thanks in large part to three goals in the first half, Koeman’s team easily defeated Greece 3-0.
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