‘Absolutely Thrilled’: Netherlands Coach Ronald Koeman Pleased with Dominant Victory

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman expressed his satisfaction after witnessing his team achieve a remarkable 8-0 victory over Malta on Tuesday.

This emphatic win marked the Netherlands’ largest victory since their 2011 match against San Marino, where they won 11-0. The Oranje now proudly sit with a perfect six points from their first two fixtures in the FIFA World Cup qualifying journey.

After starting their qualifying campaign with a solid 2-0 win in Finland, the Netherlands wasted no time in asserting their dominance over Malta, racing to a 3-0 lead within the opening 21 minutes. Koeman was definitely pleased with how his players performed against the underdogs.

“You can’t ask for a better performance than what we showcased today. From start to finish, we put in our utmost effort and maintained the pressure. We netted some fantastic goals,” Koeman stated in the post-match press conference.

“It’s rare to see such a high scoreline in modern football. This achievement deserves significant commendation.”

Even with the scoreline reading 7-0 in the latter stages of the match, the Dutch side remained intent on securing an eighth goal. Koeman highlighted the energy and commitment shown by his players: “There’s clearly a difference in quality between us and Malta. However, reaching 8-0 required hard work and relentless pressure, and that’s exactly what we delivered.”

Magical Memphis

Memphis Depay was the star of the show, with the match ignited by his performance, as he levelled Robin van Persie’s record by scoring two goals within the first 16 minutes. “It was a fantastic night for him,” Koeman remarked.

The Corinthians forward was on the hunt for his record-breaking 51st goal while wearing the iconic orange jersey, but he was substituted off in the 72nd minute for Donyell Malen of Aston Villa, who made an immediate impact by scoring twice and providing an assist during his 20 minutes on the pitch.

Koeman justified his decision to replace Memphis before he could complete his hat-trick, stating, “No, why keep him on the pitch? He can aim for his 51st goal next time and seize the record. The next match against Poland will create that opportunity, sparking his desire.”

“Moreover, Malen certainly made a notable contribution after stepping in for Memphis. He left a good impression.”

With Poland’s surprising 2-1 defeat to Finland, the Netherlands find themselves just a point behind the group leaders from the Nordic nation. The next challenge for Oranje will be on September 4th, when they welcome Poland, a match Koeman has labelled as potentially “the most crucial one.”

The former Barcelona defender is thrilled with his team’s flawless start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, asserting, “Before this qualification process, I made it clear that we must aim to finish top of the group. We’re on the right path.”