Euro 2024: Netherlands Win Hard-fought Opening Game Against Poland

 

Netherlands got on to a perfect start to the opening games of the Euro 2024 with the side coming from behind to claim 2-1 victory against Poland to take the lead of Group D. 

Poland moved ahead from Adam Buska's header that beat Bart Verbruggen to the goal following a corner. The Dutch side responded with the equalizer from Cody Gakpo, blasting home Nathan Ake's through pass near half hour of play. 

After the game lasted through to near the stoppages, the Netherlands claimed the victory from Wout Weghorst's effort, just few minutes after coming on for Memphis Depay, the striker smacked home a through ball from Ake and scored the winning goal. 

Poland last attempt at the goal was Nicolas Zalewski smacking the ball straight at the goal enough for Verbruggen to parry into safety. The victory, however, completed the Dutch unbeaten run in the group stages of international or major competitions since their last in 2012. 

Overview 

Good defending from both sides as there should have been more goals in the first goal especially for the Dutch side. At the front, Memphis did a great job but Gakpo provided the equaliser coming through the centre field. 

Poland didn't do badly at the front and the set piece that produced the opening goal from Buksa caught the Ditch defense unaware: neat header from the Polish forward. They had their chances but the Dutch were staunch taking out those efforts. 

Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Aké made great contribution to the game, even after the opening goal threw the side into a flare of desperation to come back into the game, both players repeatedly gave their assist at the front until Ake's was well enough to get to Gakpo within shooting range. 

Both sides for much of the second half seemed as they were going to keep the draw whilst they make attempts to cause a scare: substituting Memphis and Gakpo by the Netherlands seemed as they were intending to keep the score line save and Weghorst delivered the stunning winning goal just minutes after coming on Memphis. 

The second half was much relaxed than the first period with both sides looking to see the game through but were great to causing a scare with set pieces, in the end it was a well-deserved victory for the Netherlands.