MAX SPORTS: The Netherlands

Showing posts with label The Netherlands. Show all posts

Monday, 24 March 2025

SPAIN INTO UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL WITH PENALTY SHOOT-OUT VICTORY OVER THE NETHERLANDS

Spain have made it into the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League after a nervy penalty shoot-out victory over The Netherlands, which came after a 5-5 aggregate scoreline across two legs.

In Thursday’s first leg in Rotterdam, Spain found the opening goal inside the opening 10 minutes, and they did so again at the Mestalla. On this occasion, Mikel Oyarzabal was fouled inside the penalty area by Jean Paul van Hecke, and that allowed the Real Sociedad captain to step up and score from 12 yards.

La Roja would hold their lead until half time, but on 54 minutes, they were pegged back. Robin Le Normand was adjudged to have fouled Memphis Depay inside Spain’s penalty area, and that gave the opportunity for the former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker to score, which he managed to do.

15 minutes later, Spain would find themselves back in front, and it was Oyarzabal that scored again after he was set up following great work in the build-up from Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the counter-attack, which ended in the 27-year-old heading home after his initial effort was saved.

Lamine Yamal scored a wonderful goal during Spain’s 3-3 UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg draw against The Netherlands

However, La Roja could not hold on to book their place in the Nations League semi-finals as the Dutch found another equaliser, with defender Ian Maatsen blasting past Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon from inside the penalty area to restore parity on the night and on aggregate.

That goal meant that extra time was needed at the Mestalla, and in the first half of the additional 30 minutes, Spain thought that they scored the winning goal in the tie, and it was a special one from Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal. It was a wonderful pass over the top from Dean Huijsen, and the 17-year-old controlled brilliantly before firing into the far corner. But again, they were pulled back into a stalemate as Xavi Simons netted a penalty to make it 3-3.

That meant penalties were required, and it was Unai Simon that came up clutch at the end to save Donyell Malen’s effort. That gave Pedri the chance to secure the victory for Spain, and he did, with La Roja winning 5-4 in the shoot-out. And it means that they will take on France – who also won a penalty shoot-out in their quarter-final tie against Croatia – in the semi-finals this summer, before a possible final against Portugal or Germany.

- John Menzies

Wednesday, 26 June 2024

DUTCH OLYMPIC OFFICIALS WILL DENY GOLFERS FROM MEN'S COMPETITION IN PARIS

Dutch Olympic officials are keeping home two male and one female players from the golf competition in Paris because they believe their world ranking is too low for them to have a realistic chance against 60-player fields.

The Netherlands Golf Federation said Tuesday it presented “extensive arguments and data” in a June 14 meeting with the Dutch committee that oversees the Olympics, hopeful of showing unique differences in golf compared with other sports.

“According to them, it has not been demonstrated that there is a reasonable chance of a top-eight ranking during the Olympic Games,” the NGF said in a statement.

The decision means Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel will not be going to Paris. It's the second straight Olympics that Dutch officials have kept golfers home for not being ranked among the top 100 in the world.

Most telling about the Dutch decision is what happened at the Tokyo Olympics. Rory Sabbatini qualified at No. 161 in the world and shot 61 in the final round to win the silver medal in a historic day for Slovakian golf.

C.T. Pan of Taiwan won a seven-man playoff — which included Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa — to win the bronze. Pan qualified at No. 181 in the world.

Olympic qualifying is based on the Official World Golf Ranking. Countries are allowed two players — four if all are among the top 15 — until the 60-player field is filled.

For the Tokyo Games, the Netherlands had set a standard of players being among the top 100 in the world or the top 36 in the Olympic ranking for them to compete. Luiten was No. 177 and Wil Besseling was No. 221 when qualifying ended.

This year, Luiten was No. 40 in the Olympic ranking, with a world ranking of No. 147.

Anne Van Dam, who is No. 108 in the women's world ranking and No. 34 in the Olympic ranking, will be the only Dutch golfer. The Netherlands Olympic Committee will not be sending Dewi Weber, who is No. 302 in the world.

The 38-year-old Luiten is a six-time winner on the European tour who has qualified for 21 majors — including the Masters twice — and last year tied for 71st in the British Open.

The absence of Dutch golfers mean the male players will be replaced by Joel Girrbach of Switzerland (No. 366 in the world) and Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland (No. 378) from the reallocation reserve list.

Besseling, in an interview two summers ago at the U.S. Open where he tied for 56th at The Country Club, had hoped Dutch officials would change the criteria. He said it was a “stupid rule to make.”

The International Golf Federation sent a detailed letter in support of the Dutch golfers for the June 14 meeting, trying to explain that margins are so thin in golf that players well outside the top 100 can win on any given week.

“It is common for lower-ranked players to make a significant impact in major tournaments, defying their current standings,” the IGF letter said. “There are numerous examples of players who are lower ranked on OWGR who perform well in big events.”

Seven players ranked outside the top 100 in the world have won PGA Tour events that offered full FedEx Cup points this year. That list includes Nick Dunlap, who was an amateur still in college when he won The American Express against a field that included Scottie Scheffler.

The Dutch committee — formally the Netherlands Olympic Committee/Netherlands Sports Federation — tweaked its criteria for sending golfers to the 2024 Olympics.

For men, anyone finishing outside the top 27 in the Olympic ranking would have to record a top-eight finish in a tournament — provided that tournament had five players from the top 50 in the world or 10 from the top 100. Anything less would require a top-four finish.

The European tour, where Luiten and Van Driel plays, rarely gets that many from the top 100 in a world ranking that has been more heavily skewed toward the PGA Tour in the last year.

Luiten has five top-20 finishes this year, including a tie for 14th in the Dubai Invitational, where Tommy Fleetwood defeated McIlroy by one shot.

Van Driel won the Magical Kenya Open in February for his first European tour win. That tournament had only two players from the top 100.

- DOUG FERGUSON

Tuesday, 11 June 2024

DUTCH MIDFIELDER FRANKIE DE JONG TO MISS EURO 2024 WITH INJURY

Frenkie De Jong, hampered by a lingering ankle injury, was included in Ronald Koeman's Euro 2024 squad but has been forced to withdraw on Monday. EPA/KOEN VAN WEEL

The Netherlands have been dealt a blow ahead of the start of the European Championships this week after Frenkie de Jong was ruled out of the tournament on Monday.

De Jong, 27, has not played since injuring his right ankle in Barcelona's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on April 21.

Despite that, the midfielder was named in Ronald Koeman's 26-player squad for the Euros in Germany with the expectation he would be able to feature in the finals.

However, the Netherlands confirmed in a short statement that De Jong had lost "a race against time" and would not be fit enough to play any part in the tournament.

"I'm sad and disappointed that I won't make it to the Euros," De Jong said in a post on social media.

"We've been doing a lot of work in the past few weeks, but my ankle needs more time, unfortunately.

"It's a dream and the greatest honour to represent our country in a major tournament, but now, like the entire nation, I will cheer for our team from the sidelines."

De Jong, who has 54 caps for his country, missed Barça's final six games of the season after sustaining his third ankle of the campaign in the Clásico defeat against Madrid.

Speaking after a 4-0 win over Iceland, Koeman criticised Barça's management of De Jong's injuries this season.

"They took a risk with Frenkie and now we suffer the consequences," Koeman told NOS.

De Jong will now return to Barcelona to continue his recovery work, while Koeman must decide whether he wants to call up a replacement for the former Ajax man.

The Netherlands kick off their tournament against Poland on June 16, with games against France and Austria to follow in the group stage.

- Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent