with videoThe Orange squad has won a difficult, yet beautiful victory against Wales (3-2) in the Nations League. That’s what captain Matthijs de Ligt said at the NOS† ,,That we still win after a very tough season is nice. We have shown ‘spirit’ again. We should be happy.”
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The fact that the Netherlands gave away a 2-0 lead was less good. De Ligt: ,,We ran out quickly, but they made the 2-1 just a little too quickly. As a result, perhaps a little bit of fear crept into the team. We then search in vain for the 3-1, but in the final phase we concede a penalty. But we shouldn’t have let it get to this point.”
De Ligt thought it was fantastic that the Orange still won in extra time after Gareth Bale’s equalizer. ,,We immediately used the long ball in the last minute, un-Dutch actually. Then Memphis Depay also manages to score. That is amazing.”
Depay himself also used the word “great.” ,,Two evenings ago you feel like a plug, but now it comes at my feet,” said the striker, referring to the missed penalty against Poland. ,,I should have been the match winner there too. But that it works now is great It’s great how Dumfries is heading that ball, but it also means something about how we are at it.”
After the match, Depay took all the time for a lap of honour: ,,I like the interaction with the audience. During the warm up they call my name and then I raise a thumb or a hand. Sometimes you can make someone’s day with that. It’s the end of the season and I don’t need my shoes anymore. So I gave it away. †
Depay had a small and very cheerful chat with Van Gaal after the game. ,,When I went into the field he told me to make one. So after the game I said, ‘This one is for you.’”
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Top scorer
The attacker knows all too well that with his 42nd goal for the Orange, Depay only has Robin van Persie (50) ahead of him in the list of top scorers of all time. “I am often reminded of it. But of course you look up, I’m right there. I have no contact with Van Persie, but I’m sure he sees it and he’s happy.”
Depay needed 80 caps to find Huntelaar. Huntelaar played 76 international matches but got much less playing time in the Orange squad than Depay. The FC Barcelona attacker was on the field for more than 6000 minutes for the Orange, Huntelaar more than 4300 minutes.
Van Persie played 102 international matches and got more than 7300 minutes of playing time for the Orange.
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