Matthijs de Ligt of Netherlands in action during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A3 match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Netherlands at Bilino Polje stadium on November 19, 2024 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.placeholder image
Matthijs de Ligt of Netherlands in action during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A3 match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Netherlands at Bilino Polje stadium on November 19, 2024 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. | Getty Images
Two Manchester United players started on the bench on Sunday evening during the latest round of international fixtures
Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır was saved the embarrassment of being on the receiving end of a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Spain as he was left on the bench for Turkey’s World Cup qualifying loss on Sunday night.
Pedri scored twice while Arsenal man Mikel Merino netted a hat-trick with Ferran Torres also finding the net as Spain cruised to a comfortable win. They had 21 shots, with 12 hitting the target compared to 11 shots from the hosts with just two on target.
Galatasary goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır was given the nod ahead of Bayındır but could do little to stop the tidal wave of Spanish goals. The result puts Turkey third in their group on goal difference, with Spain top and Georgia in second.
Bayındır has had a shaky start to the season for United and Ruben Amorim has been urged to drop him ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday. The 27-year-old has been a regular part of the Turkey squad but has struggled to break into the starting XI.
His last appearance was a 3-0 loss to Portugal at Euro 2024, he has either been left on the bench or injured in every game since.
Matthijs de Ligt comes on late as Netherlands beat Lithuania
Elsewhere, United defender Matthijs de Ligt was a late substitute as the Netherlands beat Lithuania 3-2 away from home. It was nervy win with ex-Red Devils man Memphis Depay scoring after 11 minutes. Quinten Timber put the visitors 2-0 up but Gvidas Gineitis and Edvinas Girdvainis scored twice in seven minutes to haul Lithuania level.
Depay put the Dutch back in front just after the hour. The away side dominated the ball but made hard work of the game as they banked three points in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Against Poland on Thursday, De Ligt was an unused substitute as Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool and Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke were given the nod. On Sunday, Van Dijk stated alongside Stefan de Vrij in the heart of defence.
The Netherlands have several strong options at centre-back with Tottenham player Micky van de Ven coming on just after the hour to replace De Vrig. De Ligt was introduced on 89 minutes for forward Donyell Malen as he was tasked with keeping the hosts at bay as the Netherlands put more defenders on to secure three points and go top of their five-team qualifying group with a game in hand.
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