Netherlands 2-0 Latvia: De Jong, Berghuis score, Frank de Boer’s side ensures 3 points

Steven Berghuis-Nederlands

The Netherlands picked up a 2-0 win over Latvia in the World Cup qualifiers earlier tonight.

Frank de Boer will be delighted with the way his side bounced back against tonight’s opposition having lost their game against Turkey last week.

Berghuis and De Jong scored either side of half time to secure all three points for the Netherlands. The Dutch outfit are now third in Group G with three points from two matches and they will be hoping to close the gap with Turkey and Montenegro in the coming matches.

The Netherlands struggled in the attack against Turkey and they managed to make amends in style against Latvia. They ended up creating 37 chances against tonight’s opposition.

De Boer started Tim Krul in goal and the former Newcastle keeper had a comfortable outing for this country and he had to make just one save from Andrejs Ciganiks late on in the game.

The Netherlands manager made some tactical changes for tonight’s game and he decided to drop Wijnaldum back into the midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong and he started Davy Klaassen in the number 10 role and brought Luuk De Jong into the starting lineup to lead the attack.

Netherlands looked far better going forward with a natural number ten and a striker playing tonight.

Against Turkey, De Boer chose to use Wijnaldum in the number ten role and Memphis Depay was leading the line for his country.

The Netherlands dominated the game from start to finish and they enjoyed 77% ball possession and had 36 shots compared to just four from Latvia.

The visitors were the underdogs heading into the game and they can have no complaints after being outplayed tonight. The defeat tonight leaves Latvia 5th in the group with zero points from two matches.

Line-ups

Netherlands

Tim Krul, Daley Blind, Matthijs de Ligt, Owen Wijndal, Denzel Dumfries, Davy Klaassen, Frenkie de Jong, Georginio Wijnaldum, Luuk de Jong, Memphis Depay, Steven Berghuis.

Substitutes

Maarten Stekelenburg, Ryan Babel, Marco Bizot, Patrick van Aanholt, Marten de Roon, Joël Veltman, Kenny Tete, Steven Bergwijn, Donny van de Beek, Calvin Stengs, Donyell Malen, Ryan Gravenberch.

Latvia

Roberts Ozols, Igors Tarasovs, Antonijs Cernomordijs, Raivis Andris Jurkovskis, Vladislavs Fjodorovs, Janis Ikaunieks, Kristers Tobers, Arturs Zjuzins (Kriss Karklins), Roberts Uldrikis (Vladislavs Gutkovskis), Andrej Ciganiks, Vladimirs Kamess.

Substitutes

Aleksandrs Solovjovs, Vitalijs Maksimenko, Pavels Steinbors, Roberts Savalnieks, Davis Ikaunieks, Marcis Oss, Krisjanis Zviedris, Eduards Emsis, Alvis Jaunzems, Raimonds Krollis.