Dutch on track for Euro 2024 as Virgil van Dijk spot kick beats Greece
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Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk celebrating after scoring a penalty during the Euro 2024 qualifying group B football match against Greece at OPAP Arena in Athens.
PHOTO: AFP
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ATHENS – The Netherlands got back on course to qualify for Euro 2024 by beating Greece 1-0 in Athens after a late penalty from captain Virgil van Dijk settled a bad-tempered game on Monday.
Said the Liverpool centre-back: “We were expecting a tough encounter and it was. We wasted several opportunities to finish the match earlier. During the final minutes, Greece introduced two more strikers and we had to survive.”
The Dutch are second in Group B, six points behind France, who beat them 2-1 on Friday and have qualified. Although they have the same number of points as Greece (12), the Netherlands have the head-to-head advantage after home and away wins.
Van Dijk’s side have their destiny in their hands as they host Ireland (6 points) on Nov 18, then travel to bottom side Gibraltar three days later.
Wout Weghorst had a first-half penalty saved for the Dutch at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens, but Liverpool skipper van Dijk made no such mistake in the closing moments.
In a tense finale, Denzel Dumfries was tripped in the Greek penalty area and van Dijk slotted home the spot kick.
Said Dutch coach Ronald Koeman: “We do not have a specialist for penalties, corners and free kicks. When Virgil was behind the ball for the second one, I suddenly thought, ‘surely it won’t be one of those evenings when this one goes wrong, too’. But Virgil took it well and decided the match.
“We should have decided this match long before the penalty in stoppage time. Greece threw on three attackers and suddenly the players were no longer in position.
“We had a comfortable first half but we should have scored that penalty. Afterwards, it became a different match. We continued to believe in ourselves. Greece didn’t create chances but we had to be very careful not to concede.”
As tempers flared, Greece coach Gus Poyet was sent off for abusing the referee.
The Uruguayan was more upbeat after the game, calling it “our best match in the qualifying stage”.
He said: “If we rate the strength we displayed and our understanding of the tactics, this was our best match in the qualifying stage.
“It was very important for us to apply the lessons learnt in the reverse fixture and not play as we did in the Netherlands. We are disappointed but we learnt a lot.”
Defender Panagiotis Retsos added: “It was a very tough match and we showed personality... We are happy with our display, despite the defeat.” AFP
