Three Liverpool stars started for the Netherlands in their World Cup qualifier in Poland, while there were defeats for Conor Bradley and Mohamed Salah
Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo all lined up for the Netherlands in Poland
Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo all lined up for the Netherlands in Poland
View Image
The three fit members of Liverpool's Dutch contingent helped the Oranje to the brink of World Cup qualification on Saturday evening, but it wasn't plain sailing for them.
With Jeremie Frimpong still on Merseyside recovering from his hamstring injury, skipper Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo all started for Ronald Koeman's side in their clash with Poland in Warsaw. Van Dijk and Gakpo would go on to play the full 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw, with Gravenberch withdrawn with just one minute of normal time remaining.
Jakub Kaminski opened the scoring for the Poles two minutes before half-time, with Memphis Depay grabbing an equaliser two minutes after the break to all but assure that the Netherlands will be playing in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer.
As is often the way though, the Dutch side have come in for fierce criticism from several members of their national media.
Van Dijk was blasted for his role in the Poland goal by De Telegraaf, who wrote: “The fact that the Dutch team, seemingly in control, went into the dressing room trailing at half-time was the result of a series of errors. Depay lost the ball, (Jurrien) Timber unnecessarily and halfheartedly stepped through on Robert Lewandowski, Virgil van Dijk was positioned incorrectly, and (Lutsharel) Geertruida let Kaminski charge through inside the box at (Bart) Verbruggen. This time, he finally found the net: 1-0.”
Football-Oranje were also critical of Gakpo and Gravenberch. On the former, they said: “The Netherlands look to Gakpo to create and do something special. He tried but it just didn’t come off against Poland. His position is nailed on in the starting line-up but he can do much better." On Gravenberch they added: “Was far too invisible throughout the game and did little.”
Elsewhere in World Cup qualifying Florian Wirtz played the full 90 minutes for Germany in their 2-0 win at Luxembourg, while there was late defeat for Conor Bradley's Northern Ireland as they fell to a last minute winner from Slovakia in Kosice. Despite that 1-0 loss though, Bradley and his side have earned a World Cup playoff place.
In friendly action, Alexis Mac Allister spent 26 minutes on the pitch with his brother Kevin in Argentina's 2-0 win at Angola. Reds star Mac Allister had started the game, before his big brother came on for his debut in the 59th minute. The junior Mac Allister was taken off with five minutes remaining as the world champions won through goals from Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi.
Mohamed Salah played the full 90 minutes in Egypt's 2-0 defeat to Uzbekistan in the UAE, but Wataru Endo failed to get off the bench as Japan beat Ghana 2-0 in Toyota. Ex-Red Takumi Minamino scored the opening goal.
Exciting youngster Trent Kone-Doherty played for the Republic of Ireland's under-21s in their 2-0 defeat to England, while Amara Nallo came off the bench for England under-20s as they drew 1-1 with Japan.
Content Image
Content Image