Netherlands into quarters, as 7-goal Germany sets record
The Netherlands outclassed Hungary with a 4-0 victory in their winner-takes-all Nations League encounter on Saturday, while record-setting Germany hammered Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-0.
The Netherlands and Hungary went into the match tied on five points apiece, with the winner set to ensure its progress from Group A3 to join Germany in the quarterfinals.
First-half penalties by Wout Weghorst and Cody Gakpo sent the Oranje on their way, before Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners made the game safe in the second period.
"There are always things we can improve upon," Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk told Dutch broadcaster SBS6. "But, in the end, we deserved to win."
The match at the Johan Cruyff Arena was briefly interrupted in the seventh minute owing to a medical emergency on the Hungarian bench.
The referee stopped play for some 10 minutes while Hungary's assistant coach Adam Szalai received treatment, shielded from view by huddled players and staff members, as well as a large white sheet.
Szalai, 36, was stretchered off to applause from spectators and players alike, the Hungarian FA later released a statement saying he was "conscious" and in a "stable condition" at an Amsterdam hospital.
"It was a scare of course," Gakpo told news outlet NOS. "Fortunately, I just heard he regained consciousness on the pitch. Things like this are more important than football."
Almost forgotten in the aftermath of the worrying incident was a handball by Tamas Nikitscher as the ball was crossed into the Hungarian box.
The referee consulted the touchline video monitor and promptly restarted play by pointing to the spot, allowing Weghorst to sweep the Netherlands in front.
Denes Dibusz was the busier of the two goalkeepers as the first period wore on, and had to be alert to keep out efforts from Tijjani Reijnders and Donyell Malen.
In the 11th minute of added time, Dutch dominance told, and Malen was clipped by Zsolt Nagy in the box.
Gakpo dispatched the resulting spot-kick, sending Dibusz the wrong way and the Netherlands to a two-goal lead.
Right-back Dumfries sealed the Netherlands' spot in the quarters as he latched onto Malen's flick-on at the back post and fizzed a volley back into the far corner shortly after the hour.
Koopmeiners marked his first international match since 2022 by nodding in a fourth in the 86th minute.
'Good fun'
Germany cemented its spot at the top of the group with a 7-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina — the biggest victory recorded in the six-year history of the Nations League.
"It was good fun tonight. After a couple of goals, we did the work defensively and then everything came together offensively. The more that happens, the more fun we have on the pitch," German attacker Jamal Musiala told UEFA's website.
Musiala opened the floodgates after two minutes with a header from Joshua Kimmich's cross.
Tim Kleindienst scored his first goal for Germany in the 23rd minute and Kai Havertz made the game safe eight minutes before the break, slotting home after a slick one-two with Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz then made it four on 50 minutes with a sublime swerving freekick from wide on the left, before doubling up seven minutes later.
"Seeing Flo (Wirtz's) freekick was kind of nice, but, just in general, everyone played well and had good moments. We're just playing good football," added Musiala.
Substitute Leroy Sane scored Germany's sixth in the 66th minute and Kleindienst completed the rout just over 10 minutes from time, as he guided home a pinpoint cross from center-half Antonio Rudiger.
The emphatic result leaves Germany five points ahead of the Netherlands with only one match left to play.
In Group B1, Georgia played out a 1-1 draw at home to Ukraine to stay two points ahead of the fourth-placed visitors.
The Czech Republic drew 0-0 away to third-placed Albania and remains top of the group on eight points, one ahead of Georgia in second.
AFP
