Match Thread: Netherlands vs. Northern Ireland

International Friendly: The Netherlands vs Northern Ireland
Revenue: Amsterdam Arena
Start: 19:00 GMT(20:00 CET)​

The last friendly before the start of the EC for The Netherlands. It is the last time head coach Bert van Marwijk can experiment changes made in the line up, which has changed dramatically since the WC final in 2010. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has retired since then, Erik Pieters used to be his replacement on the left back position but he has been injured a lot this season and is to miss the EC and the start of next season. Jetro Willems is the up and coming LB of PSV and with his 18 years old the youngest player in the selection. He is likely to be part of this match.

Joris Mathijsen is still injured. The steady center back had to be substituted early in the friendly match again Bulgaria last week due to hamstring problems.
He is likely to make the first EC match against Denmark. Instead Ron Vlaar will start this game against Northern Ireland with Johnny Heitinga by his side. On the RB position Gregory van der Wiel.

In front of the defense the midfield buldozers Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel will start. Just like in the WC final of 2010. But in front of them there are two changes. Wesley Sneijder is given a couple of days rest after taking two hits to the ankle twice during the friendly against Slovakia last Wednesday. In that match he was subsituted in the 53d minute of the game and looked seriously injured. Docters later confirmed he was injured, but should be recoved before the start of the EC. In this match he is replaced by Ibrahim Afellay who was injured for 8 months due to cruciate ligament rupture. His first start in 9 months time was against Slovakia last Wednesday but had to be substituted in the 77th minute due to exhaustion. Afellay will play on the left wing position but can act as an attack midfielder which is his natural position. By his side on the AM position Wesley Sneijder. On the right wing position Bert van Marwijk will field Arjen Robben.

The choice has been made by Van Marwijk, Van Persie will play, not Huntelaar. And this setup will likely be permanent for the EC. Although Huntelaar was given the number 9 shirt, Van persie got #16, he will not play this match in the starting 11.

The starting 11:

Stekelenburg

Van Der Wiel - Heitinga - Vlaar - Willems

Van Bommel - De Jong
Robben - Sneijder - Afellay

Van Persie​

And this is my first match thread ever on the Dutch National team, hope you guys enjoy it!

 

Almost forgot, the Northern Ireland setup:

Lee Camp

Lee Hodson - Michael Duff - James McPake - Daniel Lafferty

Andrew Little - Sammy Clingan - Grant McCann - Oliver Norwood

Martin Peterson - David Healy ​

 

Match due in 20 minutes
Livestreams here:

http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/125296/1/watch-netherlands-vs-northern-ireland.html

http://livetv.ru/en/eventinfo/121321_netherlands_northern_ireland/

And here: http://www.rojadirecta.me/

Enjoy the match!

 

20 minutes into the game and its 2-0

V. Persie 11th minute
Sneijder 15th minute

Fun match to watch so far, fast paced action going on at times.

 

Netherlands have taken their foot off the pedal now.

 

3-0 penalty conversion Van Persie 28th minute

 

4-0 Afellay 37th minute

Will they make it to 10-0?

 

I'll guess about 5-6. They'll take pity on them soon.

 

Yea this is turning into a slaughter, much more exciting than England - Belgium i suppose

 

After watching a bad streak by the team, im glad to see them back on the right track.

 

No substitutions for The Netherlands during half time, Huntelaar warming up.
Northern Ireland substitute their goalie, Roy Carroll is coming on for Lee Camp. And Josh Carson is on for Grant McCann.

 

5-0 Afellay 51st minute

 

Out: In:

Robin van Persie ........... Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Mark van Bommel ........... Rafael van der Vaart​

 

As a NI fan I'm sadly not surprised but still red faced

 

You're doing fine so far. Last year, The Netherlands - San Marino 11-0
Could've been 8-0 already easily so there's nothing to be ashamed of IMO, you could've done alot worse.

 

6-0 Ron Vlaar 78th minute

 

Jetro Willems Out
Stijn Schaars In

Arjen Robben Out
Dirk Kuijt In

 

Final whistle.

6-0 wrap up. In all, a good perfomance for The Netherlands and a good last rehearsal for the real deal next week.
Score could've been way higher, up to 10-0, shows that the team is not in full focus mode yet but that will probaby chance once the EC starts and tension starts to build up.