New Delhi: Netherlands beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-2 as they started their campaign for UEFA Nations League 2024-25. However, conceding twice has given a fair warning to the Oranje of what standards of football are expected from them in the tournament, as Matthijs de Ligt came under fire for an error during the game.
After conceding early to the Netherlands through Joshua Zirkzee’s boot, the visitors launched a counterattack as they equalised in the 22nd minute after some shoddy defending Manchester United centre-back. De Ligt had played Ermedin Demirovic with ineffective positioning. Finding enough gaps between De Ligt and Virgil van Dijk, Demirovic made full use of the situation. The Stuttgart forward’s shot went past the Dutch shot-stopper.
The 25-year-old was again a spectator to Edin Dzeko’s goal after Cody Gapko and Tijjani Reijnders had managed to put the Dutch team ahead. De Ligt could have reacted early and easily cleared the ball. However, De Ligt failed to do so as Dzeko went past Bart Verbruggen and doubled the score for the Dragons. The Dutch side were under pressure from there on, and Wout Weghorst and Xavi Simons’s goals in the final minutes ensured that the hosts ended on the winning side.
Ronald Koeman reacts to De Ligt’s error
Reflecting on the game later, Oranje manager Ronald Koeman felt that De Ligt knew his error and that there could be no repetition in the future. He mentioned that the second saw the Dutch team lead the game by just one goal, and that had put doubts in the team. However, the 61-year-old manager felt that mistakes could happen in the game of football and that the matter shouldn’t be blown out of proportion.
• This is not the first time Matthijs de Ligt makes a mistake. Does it start to worry you now?
🗣️ – Koeman: “Matthijs de Ligt himself knows that he did wrong. This can’t happen.” pic.twitter.com/OkJxtEHtth
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) September 7, 2024
De Ligt will have to quickly move on from the game and prepare himself to face Germany at home. The former Ajax centre-back will then return to play with United in their game against Southampton. At United, Erik ten Hag gave De Ligt his first start with United in their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, having arrived at the Premier League side this year during the transfer window from Bayern Munich. Ten Hag and De Ligt have worked together before when both were part of Ajax.
Manchester United ace came under fire after slip-ups during the Oranje’s opening game in the UEFA Nations League 2024-25 but finds support from Ronald Koeman. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today