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 much more complete than the scoreline steered.
In consequence, 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 below his cost, barely laid a glove on a far superior facet on an evening once they had hoped to bloody the nostril of one among Europe’s conventional massive weapons.
Their feint hopes of securing a play-off berth by way of the Nations League have been formally dashed on Thursday evening by Slovakia’s 4-2 victory over Iceland with automated 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 one among 4 modifications to the facet that beat Gibraltar 4-0 final 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 have been all named on the bench.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman made 4 modifications to the group 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.
Enjoying below the closed roof on the Johan Cruyff Area following persistent rain in Amsterdam, the Dutch dominated possession within the early phases and took the lead with simply 12 minutes gone.
Defender Stefan de Vrij performed the ball into striker Wout Weghorst’s toes on midway and he cleverly turned Nathan Collins earlier than racing in on purpose 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 purpose.
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 past Bazunu and his facet needed to accept a 1-0 victory which nonetheless secured their passage to the finals.