Wout Weghorst fired the Netherlands into the Euro 2024 finals because the Republic of Eire’s dismal marketing campaign ended with a whimper.
Burnley’s on-loan Hoffenheim frontman, whose winner in Dublin in September left Eire with a mountain to climb, repeated the trick in Amsterdam to safe a 1-0 victory which was way more complete than the scoreline advised.
Consequently, the Dutch secured second place in Group B behind France, who put 14 with out reply previous Gibraltar.
Stephen Kenny’s males, who’ve now gained solely six of the 29 aggressive video games they’ve performed underneath his cost, barely laid a glove on a far superior facet on an evening after they had hoped to bloody the nostril of considered one of Europe’s conventional large weapons.
Their feint hopes of securing a play-off berth by way of the Nations League had been formally dashed on Thursday night time by Slovakia’s 4-2 victory over Iceland with computerized qualification having slipped from their grasp lengthy earlier than.
How the Netherlands certified as Eire bowed out
Callum Robinson was handed a primary aggressive begin for the Republic of Eire since June 2022 as they tried to finish their Euro 2024 qualifying marketing campaign on a excessive within the Netherlands.
The Cardiff frontman was included in considered one of 4 modifications to the facet that beat Gibraltar 4-0 final day trip as he, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea and Alan Browne changed the injured Chiedozie Ogbene in addition to Shane Duffy, Jamie McGrath and Mikey Johnston, who had been all named on the bench.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman made 4 modifications to the staff which began final month’s 1-0 win in Greece within the midst of an damage disaster with Stefan de Vrij, Daley Blind, Jerdy Schouten and Cody Gakpo changing Lutsharel Geertruida, Nathan Ake, Mats Wieffer and Steven Bergwijn.
Taking part in underneath the closed roof on the Johan Cruyff Area following persistent rain in Amsterdam, the Dutch dominated possession within the early levels and took the lead with simply 12 minutes gone.
Defender Stefan de Vrij performed the ball into striker Wout Weghorst’s ft on midway and he cleverly turned Nathan Collins earlier than racing in on objective and smashing a right-foot drive previous the helpless Gavin Bazunu.
Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders each missed the goal with long-range makes an attempt and Bazunu needed to save from the latter as the house facet tried to extend their benefit, however they went in on the break main by the sport’s solely objective.
Bazunu saved from Weghorst and Reijnders in fast succession as Koeman’s males seemed to kill off the sport, and it appeared solely a matter of time earlier than they did so.
Eire substitute Adam Idah thought he had levelled with the assistance of a 59th-minute howler from Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen, however an offside flag spared the Brighton man’s blushes.
Dutch substitute Donyell Malen may need made it 2-0 with two minutes remaining, however couldn’t discover a well beyond Bazunu and his facet needed to accept a 1-0 victory which nonetheless secured their passage to the finals.