Euro 2020: Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries send Netherlands into Last 16
Updated On: 18 June, 2021 12:00 AM IST | Amsterdam | AFP
The Dutch were comfortable at home in the Johan Cruyff Arena and De Boer`s side are so far making a success of their first major tournament since the 2014 World Cup
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Netherlands` forward Memphis Depay celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group C football match between the Netherlands and Austria. Pic/AFP
The Netherlands are through to the last 16 at Euro 2020 after Memphis Depay`s penalty set up a 2-0 win over Austria on Thursday, their second straight victory securing top spot in Group C as coach Frank de Boer declared there is much more to come from his side. Depay made no mistake from the spot in the 11th minute in Amsterdam after David Alaba`s foul on Denzel Dumfries was spotted by the Israeli referee only after he came across to review the images. Dumfries, so impressive in the thrilling opening 3-2 win over Ukraine, added another midway through the second half, his second goal of the tournament. The Dutch were comfortable at home in the Johan Cruyff Arena and De Boer`s side are so far making a success of their first major tournament since the 2014 World Cup. That is great news for De Boer, whose predecessor as national coach, Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman, was among the spectators.
"I know we can beat anybody when we are at our best but I think other teams are thinking the same so let`s go game by game and see where that takes us," De Boer said. The Dutch now cannot be caught at the top of the group after Ukraine beat North Macedonia earlier in Bucharest, with the Balkan outsiders already eliminated. That means De Boer can rest players for the final group game against North Macedonia, safe in the knowledge that the Dutch will go to Budapest for a last-16 tie on June 27 against a third-place finisher. "We need to decide how to prepare for the next game, whether to keep working on the system and improve that or give some players extra time off," De Boer added. He had said coming into the Euro that the 1988 champions were "between the fourth and eighth-best team" and already they can see their path opening up to the quarter-finals. They will still need to improve if they are to go further, but they appear to be finding their feet in the 3-5-2 system that De Boer has controversially opted for.
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