Mounting what was an eye catching comeback on Sunday night time whereas on international soil, Holland clinched an important 2-1 win away at Eire in Dublin.
Whereas Stephen Kenny’s struggling squad may need come flying out of the traps right here as Norwich’s Adam Idah transformed from the penalty spot after simply 4 minutes, the Group B strugglers finally noticed their qualifying desires go up in smoke.
Pegged again simply quarter-hour later as Liverpool star Cody Gakpo notched his personal spot-kick, the Greens failed to seek out any form of fluidity after coming back from the half-time interval.
Now shedding 4 of their 5 Group B appearances this 12 months as former Manchester United loanee Wout Weghorst bagged what may change into a monumental victory for the European heavyweights, Eire have loads of questions that want answering.
Nevertheless, whereas Eire may be now in search of a serious qualifying miracle, Holland have discovered a route into the top-two and it seems that they’ve turned an important nook this month.
With the Dutch now mustering three qualifying victories on the spin, we’ve taken a have a look at the important thing speaking factors from Sunday’s showdown in Dublin.
Holland present their resolve
Whereas Holland may need gained a string of reward throughout their World Cup journey below Louis van Gaal final winter, it’s no secret that the Dutch had struggled to seek out instantly discover their ft below the returning Ronald Koeman.
Nonetheless, whereas the European giants may need suffered actual Nations League heartbreak again in June, the one-time Barcelona boss has seen his facet come roaring again this month.
Marking their return to qualifying duties earlier within the week as they landed an eye catching 3-0 romp at residence towards a high-flying Greece, the Rangers have now gained every of their earlier three straight Group B appearances.
Mounting a stellar comeback on international soil right here regardless of struggling that early blow in Dublin, Koeman’s males have now handed themselves a serious platform to construct on going ahead.
Leapfrogging Greece and nonetheless main the chase to say an important top-two end in Group B, Holland will now know that they’ve their very own destiny firmly in their very own arms.
Subsequent up for Koeman’s facet, they face what’s a heavyweight showdown on residence soil as they welcome France to Amsterdam on October thirteenth.
Eire watch their qualifying desires go up in smoke
Whereas Eire may need claimed what was an important 3-0 romp once they welcomed Gibraltar to Dublin again on June nineteenth, it seems that end result was nothing greater than a minor increase for Kenny’s downbeat squad.
Though Sunday’s hosts may need opened their European Championship qualifying journey earlier within the 12 months with their sights firmly set on mounting a real top-two cost, the Greens have as a substitute come below an enormous quantity of scrutiny.
Marking their return to qualifying duties in midweek as they slumped to a routine 2-0 loss by the hands of former world champions France, Eire would have all the time recognized that they confronted one other heavyweight problem right here.
Regardless of Idah handing the Group B strugglers a outstanding opener after simply 4 minutes, Kenny’s facet have now misplaced 4 of their 5 qualifying appearances and questions can be requested over the ex-Shamrock Rovers boss and his long-term future.
Sunday’s 2-1 loss leaves Eire sitting six factors adrift of the second-placed Dutch having performed a recreation extra, with a house match towards Greece and a visit to Gibraltar in October up subsequent.
Weghorst saves the day for Koeman
Unable to name upon attacking talisman and Atletico Madrid marksman Memphis Depay this month attributable to a latest harm problem, many Dutch followers have been questioning who would spearhead Koeman’s assault of their two essential Group B appearances.
Whereas one-time Barcelona starlet Xavi Simons may be having fun with a stellar free-scoring begin to life with German giants RB Leipzig, it’s going to actually be Weghorst who steals many of the headlines this month.
Though the Hoffenheim striker may need failed to seek out any form of fluidity throughout his shock mortgage change to Premier League heavyweights Manchester United final season, Weghorst has continued to shine when handed an opportunity on the worldwide stage.
Bagging what turned out to be an important second-half winner right here and now notching back-to-back Group B strikes over the previous few days, the 31-year-old has confirmed that he has a key function to play in Holland’s bid to clinch a top-two end this 12 months.
Match Report
Eire: Bazunu, Collins, Duffy, Egan, McClean, Cullen, Browne, Doherty, Knight, Ogden, Idah
Subs: Manning, Smallbone, McGrath, Ebosele, Armstrong
Netherlands: Flekken, de Ligt, van Dijk, Ake, Blind, de Jong, Wieffer, Dumfries, Simons, Malen, Gakpo
Subs: Lang, Weghorst, Reijnders, Koopmeiners Berghuls
Objectives: Eire: Idah (4’ P) – Netherlands: Gakpo (19’ P), Weghorst (56’)
Yellow Playing cards: Eire: Bazunu, Knight, Ogbene – Ntherlands: Gakpo, Weghorst, Wieffer
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Irfan Peljto
