The Netherlands started their Nations League campaign with a convincing result as they beat Bosnia 5-2 at Philips Stadium, Eindhoven. All goals were scored by different people. Starting from Joshua Zirkzee, Tijani Reijnders, Cody Gakpo, Wout Weghorst, and Xavi Simons who scored for the host. Meanwhile, Bosnia could only respond with Ermedin Demirovic and Edin Dzeko who scored one goal for each.
Netherlands National Football Team Player Ratings vs Bosnia
Goalkeeper
Bart Verbruggen (6.9/10): He won some and lost some, but overall it was a good game for the Brighton goalie.
Defenders
Denzel Dumfries (6.7/10): Put more variations in the Netherlands attacking scheme.
Matthijs de Ligt (6.8/10): Showed what a solid defense looks like.
Virgil van Dijk (6.9/10): Did his defending routine well with Bosnia found it hard to open spaces in the box.
Nathan Ake (6.7/10): Played effectively alongside Gravenberch and Reijnders in the midfield.
Midfielders
Jerdy Schouten (6.8/10): Kept the midfield balance with his positioning and ball distributions.
Ryan Gravenberch (7.1/10): Started to gain his long-lost touch in the midfield with his movements.
Tijani Reijnders (8.7/10): Putting threats for Bosnia with his attempts including one goal scored.
Forwards
Xavi Simons (8.2/10): Had to wait until the last minutes of the game to put his name on the score sheet.
Cody Gakpo (8.1/10): Dangerously good as he created chances and scored in the second half to extend the score gap.
Joshua Zirkzee (8.2/10): He got over the dark cloud hanging over him in the game against Liverpool with the goal he scored.
Substitutions
Jurrien Timber (6.7/10): Came on to give the Netherlands the fresh legs to preserve their lead.
Donyel Mallen (6.8/10): Ronald Koeman put Mallen on to keep the tempo following Gakpo’s substitution.
Lutsharel Geertruida (6.9/10): Another tactical substitution by the Netherlands in the second half.
Wout Weghorst (7.8/10): As expected, Weghorst came in to score a goal as Zirkzee started to show exhaustion.
Quinten Timber (6.8/10): Came in the second half to keep the control in the midfield.
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Bosnia National Football Team Player Ratings vs Netherlands
Goalkeeper
Nikola Vasilj (6.6/10): Made several important saves apart from conceding two goals
Defenders
Amar Dedić (6.8/10): Dealing with the Netherlands attackers was difficult, and Dedic showed it today.
Nihad Mujakić (6.7/10): Despite the effort to defend the box area, Mukajic had to witness the ball struck over his team’s net.
Nikola Katić (6.7/10): Put all the efforts he had to prevent the Netherlands from scoring but failed to do so.
Adrian Leon Barišić (6.5/10): Played right at the heart of Bosnia’s defense, and made interceptions and clearances.
Jusuf Gazibegović (6.7/10): Worked alongside Huseinbasic down the flank to give a proper challenge for the Dutch.
Midfielders
Benjamin Tahirović (6.7/10): Connected the attacking and defense side of Bosnia in the middle of the field.
Denis Huseinbašić (6.8/10): His determination down the flank caused a little trouble for the Netherlands.
Armin Gigović (6.7.10): Distributed the ball to ensure the chance creations up front.
Forwards
Ermedin Demirović (7.8/10): Shocked the Dutch with his equalizer goal in the first half to put his team leveled.
Edin Džeko (6.6/10): Led his teammates from the front side, and boosted the morale of Bosnia’s players.
Substitutions
Rade Krunic (6.9/10): He was expected to close the hole in the midfield area.
Dzenis Burnic (6.6/10): Added more fluidity in the defensive plan since he came on.
Esmir Bajraktarevic (6.8/10): He came on to give Bosnia more power on the attacking side.
Dario Saric (6.8/10): Started to give more confidence for Bosnia since coming on in the second half.
Haris Tabakovic (6.7/10): Bosnia is meant for business as they replace a striker with another striker.