The Netherlands acquired their 2026 World Cup qualification marketing campaign off to a profitable begin as Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries scored in a 2-0 away win over Finland.
Having taken half within the Nations League quarter-finals in the course of the March worldwide break, Ronald Koeman’s Oranje entered Saturday’s match with little margin for error, figuring out their important Group G rivals Poland had already gained two video games.
However a powerful begin ensured they moved to inside three factors of the summit with a sport in hand.
Lukas Hradecky – who grew to become the sixth participant to win 100 caps for Finland – was given no likelihood as Depay capitalised on some sloppy Finland play to search out the bottom-right nook with a first-time end after simply six minutes.
Hradecky then made a surprising save to maintain out a header from current Liverpool signing Jeremie Frimpong, although he was overwhelmed once more within the twenty third minute as Dumfries completed from Cody Gakpo’s hanging cross.
The Oranje went in the hunt for extra targets after the break as AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders – who is predicted to affix Manchester Metropolis subsequent week – steered a low effort broad, whereas Hradecky made one other sharp cease to scramble Depay’s deflected effort to security.
Frenkie de Jong additionally scuffed broad late on as Finland prevented additional injury, although the defeat dropped them to 4 factors from their first three video games of the marketing campaign.
Three factors to start out our @FIFAWorldCup Qualifying! #NothingLikeOrange #FINNED pic.twitter.com/in4xGZAL5f
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 7, 2025
Information Debrief: Dumfries into double figures, Depay chasing historical past
The Netherlands have been in cruise management from the off in Helsinki, racking up 17 photographs to Finland’s 5, and a couple of.06 anticipated targets (xG) to the hosts’ 0.2.
Opening scorer Depay is looking for a spot within the document books, with Saturday’s aim his forty eighth in an Oranje shirt.
He’s solely two away from equalling the Netherlands’ all-time document, held by Robin van Persie.
Dumfries, in the meantime, is already out on his personal amongst defenders within the twenty first century, having scored his tenth aim for the Netherlands. He was beforehand degree with Virgil van Dijk on 9 targets.