BELGIUM returned to the international stage with high expectations – but it didn’t quite go as planned.
A double from Memphis Depay, a decent effort from Denzel Dumfries and a terrific strike by Steven Bergwijn was enough for the Red Devil’s to be embarrassed in Brussels.
Michy Batschuayi was able to grab a late goal for Belgium, but the game was well and truly wrapped up by then.
- RESULT: Belgium 1-4 Netherlands
- TV/Live stream: Premier Sports 1
- Belgium XI: Mingolet; Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Castagne, Vanaken, Hazard, Lukaku
- Netherlands XI: Cillesen, Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, Klaasen, De Jong, Blind; Berghuis; Bergwijn, Depay
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
That is all from us!
That is all for tonight’s SunSport coverage of Netherlands 4-1 win against Belgium.
That game had everything from controversy, to scorchers from Bergwin, skills from Depay, steel from Van Dijk and so much more.
Join us tomorrow for our coverage of England against Hungary, and tonight do not miss out on the match report from Denmark’s shock win against France.
Thank you for joining us tonight, we look forward to having you again!
Around the grounds
This was the pick of the bunch tonight but there were some other great games on tonight, and here are the results of them.
Croatia 0-3 Austria
France 1-2 Denmark
Kazakhstan 2-0 Azerbajan
Belarus 0-1 Slovakia
Latvia 3-0 Andorra
Liechtenstein 0-2 Moldova
Photo of the match
Need we say more?
Ice. Cold. Steven. Bergwijn.
Steven Bergwijn celebrates his opening screamer with his signature celebration.Credit: Getty
Man of the match…
The SunSport MOTM award tonight goes to Steven Bergwijn.
It was close between him, Depay and Dumfries, but the quality of Bergwijn’s goal, combined with his quick feet and creative mind is the reason he has been chosen for us.
Who was your man of the match?
Delightful Depay
If he didn’t get injured for Barcelona this season, we could have witnessed a frightening season from Memphis Depay in the red and blue of the Blaugrana.
He scored two really well taken goals tonight, with the second being the pick of the two.
The front man was delicacy personified as he controlled the ball in the box before smashing a volley past Simon Mignolet in the Belgian net.
Van Gaal has still got it
Despite facing a battle with prostate cancer, Netherlands manager has proved he is still at the top of the game tonight.
His tactics were almost inch perfect, and Netherlands should have really kept a clean sheet in this one.
He made some bold decisions in leaving out the likes of Matthias De Ligt, but it paid off in his favour.
Huge, huge credit should go to the Dutch manager.
Louis van Gaal is currently battling prostate cancer.Credit: Getty Poor from the Red Devils
It is a bad time to be a supporter of the Red Devils it seems, and not only if you are a Manchester United fan…
Belgium seemed to really struggle tonight, despite a bright start from Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.
Once big Rom came off, they seemed to lose track of the game, and the goals started to flood in for the Netherlands.
Boyata started brightly but became really, really poor as the game dragged on, and Belgium were not good enough all over the pitch.
Full Time!
It is full time here in Belgium, and the result is a 4-1 win for the Netherlands in the Nations League.
Post match reaction is coming to you live!
Depay lit up the pitch in Belgium tonight with a brilliant brace.Credit: Reuters Last minute concellation
90+3. Belgium get a last minute concellation goal through Michy Batshuayi, it is checked for offside again, but the goal is given.
Goal – Michy Batshuayi (Belgium)
Silly Virgil.
90. Virgil Van Dijk receives a yellow card for booting the ball away in the last minute, he will claim he didn’t hear the whistle.
Unreal footwork Memphis
89. That is sensational, Memphis Depay.
His feet are dazzling the Belgian defense who have been unable to get close to the wicked Dutchman.
He is a little too selfless on that occasion, and should have had a shot.
Dutch seeing this one out
87. They are just seeing this one out now, trying to keep their clean sheet.
Bergwijn is wicked down the left hand side again with some good footwork.
Netherlands change
83. Koopmeiners comes on in replacement of Steven Berghuis for his first competitive game for the Oranje.
He is a very talented midfielder indeed, and will be keen to impress Van Gaal.
Van Dijk goes down.
81. Mertens smashes a shot against the post, and the rebound goes out to Carrasco.
His shot from distance finds the face of Virgil Van Dijk who goes down in pain, he is back up and well though now. Warrior.
Offside goal for Belgium.
78. Castagne has the ball in the net and the goal is initially given.
But after a VAR review, the goal is disallowed for offside, Batshuayi knew it too.
Where do we go from here?
76. It is a pertinent question for fans of the Red Devils as to whether they have been caught in between two generations of talent.
Players such as Vertonghen, Hazard and Alderweireld have been a part of the setup for so long, and can still perform.
But it may be time for their replacements to start to come through.
Netherlands change
74. It is the first change for Louis Van Gaal’s Oranje, with Nathan Ake making way for Matthias De Ligt.
One of the brightest young center-half’s in the game is not a bad replacement for the Manchester City man.
De Bruyne running on empty
73. We said earlier how De Bruyne looked fatigued in today’s game.
It has been a long season for him and Manchester City, and it looks like he is paying the price at international level.
Belgian changes unsuccessful
70. Belgium have made a number of substitutions that have not paid off so far.
Here is a recap of the most recent changes.
Witsel and Meunier off.
On, Batshuayi and Carrasco.
Carrasco is playing a similar role to Eden Hazard in the first half.Credit: AFP Depay’d the price!
67. It is a great finish from the Barcelona frontman, a diagonal ball reaches the Dutch forward line.
A header finds Depay in the box who control the ball smartly, and volleys home, no chance for Mignolet again.
Delightful Depay.
Another One! 4-0 Netherlands!
It is Memphis Depay again. Great finish on the volley!
The man on fire!
62. Well just four minutes ago we recognized Dumfries as the key man for Netherlands tonight.
And now he delivers.
Bergwijn does well down the left hand side again and finds Blind who fires the ball across the ground for a simple tap in.
3-0.
Dumfries has been exceptional tonight for the Oranje.Credit: Getty 3-0! Dominating Dutch!
Denzel Dumfries gets his goal!
Still time to salvage
60. Belgium do still have time to salvage something in this one, with half an hour still to go.
They will also be hoping to salvage some silverware from their golden generation, of which this tournament or the winter World cup could be their last chance.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
