Tiny Gibraltar could possibly be in for a backlash when it travels to Rotterdam on Monday to face Netherlands, which was humiliated in France on Friday firstly of its Euro 2024 qualifying marketing campaign.
Coach Ronald Koeman says he’s searching for a response from his gamers of their subsequent qualifier after the one-sided 4-0 trashing handed to his crew on the Stade de France in its opening Group B match.
The Dutch, lacking 5 gamers after the squad was ravaged by a viral an infection, obtained off to a woeful begin as Les Bleus broke the impasse after two minutes, and had been 3-0 down by 22 minutes of their worst begin to a match since 1919.
The Dutch subsequent meet Gibraltar in Rotterdam on Monday the place they might be anticipated to win, however the place Koeman now seeks extra from his gamers.
“I now expect a reaction on Monday. The players also know where we went wrong. I think this can only work out positively, that everyone knows where we stand,” he mentioned.
On Friday’s match in Paris, Koeman added, “I expected more from everyone. This was a team effort that was below average and then against a very good opponent. The difference between the two sides was too big and I didn’t expect it. The virus has left its mark, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse. We have failed ourselves. We have to learn from this.”
It was the primary recreation again in cost for Koeman in his second spell as Dutch coach, having changed Louis van Gaal on the flip of the 12 months.
The Dutch now wait to see whether or not 5 gamers despatched away from their squad on Thursday after contracting flu may get better to play in opposition to Gibraltar, amongst them Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo.
Gibraltar has misplaced its final seven aggressive away video games, conceding 33 targets within the course of. It kicked off its Group B marketing campaign with a 3-0 residence loss to Greece on Friday.
Gibraltar was in the identical FIFA World Cup qualifying group with Netherlands for the 2022 finals in Qatar, shedding 7-0 at residence and 6-0 in Rotterdam.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com