Dazzling Dutch dump France to relegate Germany
The Netherlands topped World Cup holder France 2-0 on Friday in Rotterdam, with the result relegating Germany to Nations League B.
Ronald Koeman's Oranje remain in contention to win League A Group 1, with France on seven points, one up on the Dutch with a match to play. They will now play Germany on Monday, with a point needed to vault the French.
Pos. | Team | Pts. | GD +/- |
---|---|---|---|
1 | France | 7 | 0 |
2 | Netherlands | 6 | +4 |
3 | Germany | 1 | -4 |
Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring seconds before the interval when French shot-stopper Hugo Lloris redirected Ryan Babel's shot into the path of the Liverpool midfielder.
Memphis Depay should have doubled the advantage in the 73rd minute when the Lyon star's close-range free-kick was parried away by a lunging Lloris. Depay was thwarted once again moments later when his effort from an acute angle was punched away by France's No. 1.
Depay would get his goal with a cheeky effort from the penalty spot in the final minute of added time after Moussa Sissoko daftly brought down Dutch prodigy Frenkie de Jong in the area.