The Netherlands cruised to a commanding 4-0 victory over Scotland in an international friendly played at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
It was a positive performance for the Dutch and a concerning one for the visitors in a match between two teams getting ready for the start of Euro 2024 in June.
Just before halftime in Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena, Tijjani Reijnders hammered home a long-range goal to give Ronald Koeman’s squad the lead.
Lawrence Shankland of Scotland struck the crossbar in the second half, and the visitors suffered a late collapse as a result.
The Netherlands’ second goal was headed by Georginio Wijnaldum, and the last-minute goals came from Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen, two substitutes.
Scotland’s manager, Steve Clarke, has cause for concern as his team has lost four of their last six games without a victory and given up 18 goals.
Additionally, for the first time since 1961, they have given up more than twice in six straight games.
In a rescheduled friendly at Hampden Park on Tuesday, Clarke’s team will look to bounce back against Northern Ireland before taking on hosts Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024.
“It’s a strange one. Obviously sore, losing 4-0 you can’t really dress it up, it was painful,” Clarke said.
“For 70 minutes it was really good then we concede a poor second goal. The biggest difference between the sides was clinical finishing.
“It is one to go away and digest but not get too emotional. There are plenty of positives.”
On the other hand, Netherlands hasn’t won four straight games since 2013.
“During the first hour Scotland were the better team. It was a little bit unbelievable that they didn’t score because they had so many chances,” Koeman said.
“We need to play better football. We had many mistakes and we have to do better in Germany.”
Memphis Depay of Atletico Madrid and Virgil Van Dijk and Cody Gakpo of Liverpool were among the elite players in Koeman’s starting lineup.
The Scots got off to a strong start despite the star power, and Shankland, a striker for Hearts, had an early chance.
Ryan Christie was set up by Billy Gilmour, but Flekken, the Dutch custodian, pushed the ball over the bar.
However, Reijnders, an AC Milan midfielder, scored his first goal for his country in the 40th minute after receiving a pass from Gakpo and curling a beautiful finish past Angus Gunn.
John McGinn’s shot was parried by Flekken in the second half, and Gunn had to make a fantastic stop from Depay’s on the turn.
Christie nearly missed a McGinn cross with his header, and at the other end Gunn turned away Gakpo’s 20-yard shot.
Shankland’s shot brushed the bar, much to Clarke’s annoyance on the touchline, as he managed to pass with just Flekken to beat.
In the 72nd minute, Wijnaldum headed in Gakpo’s cross from close range to increase the Netherlands’ lead.
With six minutes remaining, Weghorst, a former striker for Manchester United, nodded in from a corner, and two minutes later, Malen raced clear to add to Scotland’s suffering with a cool finish.
Photo by Netherlands Twitter page
