Spurs international watch: 90 minutes for Tottenham defender
By Tom Vinall
On Monday night, Micky van de Ven started a second international game in a row for the first time, as Ronald Koeman started him in central defence in the absence of captain Virgil Van Dijk, who was suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the draw with Hungary last Friday night. The Spurs defender partnered Stefan De Vrij of Inter Milan for this one.
It looked like the nightmare start, with Germany having the ball in the back of the net after just three minutes of action, but VAR came to the Netherlands rescue and the goal was ruled out for an offside on Serge Gnabry.
Nevertheless, van de Ven’s side seriously struggled to get any kind of foothold on the game at all. At half time, despite the game being goalless, Germany had had eight shots to the Netherlands 0, as well as 59% of the ball.
They would get their deserved goal in the second half, as Jamie Leweling, who scored the goal that was disallowed, converted after 64 minutes to put the Netherlands seriously up against it to get anything from the game.
That goal would prove to be the decisive moment of the game, as Germany would run out 1-0 winners. The Dutch only recorded three shots all game, all in the second half, and one before the 77th minute of the game. A really poor display and deserved defeat.
Still, van de Ven played 90 minutes, recording; a blocked shot, one interception, two tackles, 98 touches, ¾ long balls completed, and 2/2 ground duels won.
Despite this defeat, The Netherlands have qualification in their own hands, as they just about remain second in the group, ahead of Hungary in third only on goal difference, with the sides having an equal head to head record, but with a +5 disparity in goal difference.