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The Netherlands secured a commanding 5-2 win against Bosnia & Herzegovina in their opening League A Group 3 match in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, September 7.
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Considering this was their first game of this edition of the tournament, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman fielded a full-strength lineup. The hosts made a strong start and were rewarded early in the game as Xavi Simons' shot bobbled up and fell kindly to Joshua Zirkzee, who nodded it into the goal to make it 1-0.
The Dutch continued pushing forward in search of an insurance goal as Cody Gakpo had a decent chance and saw his effort saved by Nikola Vasilj. However, Bosnia equalized in the 27th minute after Denis Huseinbasic's perfectly weighted through ball put Ermedin Demirovic through on goal. The striker picked his spot and slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner.
Zirkzee had another decent chance and fired his shot into the side-netting, but later provided an assist for Tijjani Reijnders to put the Netherlands 2-1 up on the cusp of half-time.
The hosts began the second half as they had done the first and looked to put some daylight between themselves and Bosnia. Reijnders was in the thick of things once again and set up Cody Gakpo with a pinpoint pass across the face of goal for the Liverpool attacker to make it 3-1 in the 56th minute.
However, Bosnia refused to back down and managed to get back in the game once again. Nineteen-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic spotted Edin Dzeko's run into the box and played a beautiful curling cross that landed at his skipper's feet. Dzeko did the rest and finished to make it 3-2.
Koeman then brought on Wout Weghorst, who lurked in the box and pounced on Quinten Timber's saved shot to seal the deal with a fourth goal for the Netherlands with three minutes left to play. Xavi Simons then put the icing on the cake with a powerful shot in second-half stoppage time to make it 5-2 as the Dutch side secured a big win.
With that said, let's take a look at their player ratings.
Netherlands Player Ratings
Bart Verbruggen - 6.5/10
The Dutch custodian made just one save throughout the game but conceded two goals from fairly difficult situations.
Denzel Dumfries - 6.5/10
Dumfries won three duels and played two key passes but was subbed off with an injury concern just after the hour-mark.
Matthijs de Ligt - 6.5/10
De Ligt's positioning was slightly off the mark for Bosnia's first goal as he allowed Demirovic a clear run at goal. However, he won seven duels and made one interception.
Virgil van Dijk - 7/10
Van Dijk won seven duels, making two clearances and one interception. He also played one key pass and attempted two shots which were off-target.
Nathan Ake - 6.5/10
Ake distributed the ball with 96% accuracy and won one duel in a decent outing.
Jerdy Schouten - 6.5/10
Schouten passed the ball with 95% accuracy and won four duels.
Tijjani Reijnders - 8.5/10
Reijnders was heavily-involved in all things attack for the Netherlands. He scored his team's second goal with a intentful run at goal and provided an assist for their third. He attempted a total of five shots, even hitting the woodwork once.
Ryan Gravenberch - 7.5/10
Gravenberch put in a solid display in the Dutch midfield, passing the ball with 92% accuracy including two key passes and two crosses. He also completed two dribbles and won four duels.
Xavi Simons - 8.5/10
Another player who seemed to be all over the final third was Simons. His attempted shot led to his team's first goal, and he attempted five more shots until he finally scored late in the game. Simons also won four duels and played two key passes.
Joshua Zirkzee - 8.5/10
Zirkzee opened the scoring with a header while having his back towards the goal, and then assisted the Netherlands' second goal as well. He also played four key passes.
Cody Gakpo - 8/10
Gakpo attempted five shots and scored a poacher's goal after a direct run into the box. He also played two key passes and won one duel.
Substitutes
Jurrien Timber - 6.5/10
He replaced Ake in the second half and put in a decent performance for the Netherlands.
Donyell Malen - 7/10
Malen attempted one shot that was off-target and provided an assist for Simons' late goal in a decent cameo.
Lutsharel Geertruida - 6.5/10
He came on to replace the injured Dumfries and helped his side keep the Bosnians at bay.
Wout Weghorst - 7/10
Weghorst scored after showing good instinct and following a shot from Quinten Timber to tap-in the parried effort.
Quinten Timber - 7/10
He passed the ball with 100% accuracy and also attempted a shot that led to a goal for Weghorst after being saved.
