NETHERLANDS 3, ENGLAND 1 AET (1-1 FT) UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE
Two Extra Time errors by John Stones ended England’s UEFA Nations League campaign at the semi final stage with a Kyle Walker own goal and Quincy Promes volley making it 3-1 after Extra Time in Guimares to the Netherlands.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter such a promising start in Portugal, England failed again in a major semi final after coming within an outstretched foot of qualifying for the final of the UEFA Nations League after Marcus Rashford’s penalty was cancelled out by Matthijs de Ligt’s equaliser.
Jesse Lingard’s late goal from a brilliant England move would probably have won it but VAR ruled it out and subsequent errors cost them dearly when the Dutch finally took advantage of the chances they carved out.
The two managers had chosen different approaches to the game and the English decision making cost them on the night.
Gareth Southgate opted to leave out seven players from Spurs and Liverpool who were involved in the Champions League final.
Among the subs who had played last Saturday were Harry Kane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jordan Henderson.
In a total of five changes from the 5-1 win over Montenegro, Raheem Sterling was named captain as per earlier reports on his 50th appearance for England and England played with two defensively minded midfielders shielding their back four.
By contrast, Liverpool’s Gini Wijnaldum and Virgil van Dijk started for the Dutch as Ronald Koeman opted for a very strong Dutch side who outclassed England on the night.
Marcus Rashford had scored for England from the penalty spot against the run of play after 32 minutes but Matthijs de Ligt equalised after 73 minutes with a close range downward header from a corner after evading Stones before there was late VAR drama for both sides.
The Dutch had been generally the better side and had more chances but were wasteful until de Ligt’s downward header levelled matters late on.
Tension was high as VAR ruled out a potential England winner by Jesse Lingard – his boot was ruled offside – before ruling out a late Dutch penalty claim for handball off Ben Chilwell just before the end of normal time.
A mix-up in the England defence allowed the Dutch to capitalise on Extra Time with Walker’s own goal following Stones’ mistake proving costly as England proved too casual time and again against the Dutch while Jadon Sancho wasted a golden chance to extend their lead with a header straight at Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was the busier of the two goalkeepers on the night, making a string of saves on the night, but the signs were bad as England wilted in the extra 30 minutes.
Pickford couldn’t stop Quincy Promes from killing off England in the 114th minute after Stones’ poor pass to Ross Barkley alarmed him and his pass was picked off by ex-United winger Memphis Depay who laid the ball on a plate for Quincy Promes to volley England out of the tournament.
The Dutch quality had finally paid off and their fans were soon singing to the remaining England fans – “Always look on the bright side of life”.
England will play Switzerland in the 3rd place play off on Sunday afternoon but Southgate will know how close they came to qualifying for the final against Portugal instead.
MATCH STATS – Netherlands 3, England 1 AET (1-1 FT)
England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell, Delph (Henderson 77), Barkley, Rice (Alli 106), Sterling (C), Sancho (Lingard 61), Rashford (Kane 46)
England Subs not used: Butland, Heaton, Rose, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Wilson, Alexander-Arnold
Booked: Kane 69
Goal: Rashford 32 pen
Netherlands: Cillessen, Dumfries, de Ligt, van Dijk, Blind, de Roon (van de Beek 68), Frenkie de Jong (Strootman 113), Bergwijn (Propper 91), Wijnaldum, Babel (Promes 68), Depay
Netherlands Subs not used: Vermeer, Bizot, Hateboer, Ake, van Aanholt, de Vrij, Vilhena, Luuk de Jong
Booked: Matthijs de Ligt 29, Dumfries 43, van de Beek 106
Goals: De Ligt 73, Walker og 97, Promes 114