The Netherlands beat Poland (2-1) on the first day of Euro 2024, in Group D, which also includes the France team, Sunday June 16 in Hamburg.
The “Oranje”, dressed in blue for the occasion, showed all colors to the “Bialo-czerwoni” (Red and White), whom they clearly dominated.
Pushed by their imposing and colorful contingent of supporters, the Dutch nevertheless negotiated their start very poorly, like their captain Virgil Van Dijk. who was surprised on a corner in the 16th minute by Adam Buksa.
Trailing 1 to 0, Ronald Koeman’s men quickly regained their senses and narrowly missed the equalizer by Van Dijk (20th), then Depay (22nd).
Weghorst, supersub
It was ultimately Cody Gakpo who obtained the inevitable equalizer with a shot deflected slightly by a Polish defender into his own goal (29th). It was not until the 83rd minute that Wout Weghorst, who entered shortly before, regained his 2022 World Cup habits and freed his team.
Like Germany, Spain and Italy before them, the Netherlands have successfully entered the competition, but will have to do more if they want to worry France, vice-world champion, who faces Austria on Monday in Düsseldorf in the other Group D match.
While waiting for this shock, the thousands of “Oranje” supporters will be able to celebrate in the streets of Hamburg this success which was called into question in the 89th minute without a reflex save by Bart Verbruggen in front of Bartosz Bereszynski.
