Tottenham stars were involved in the Netherlands squad as they narrowly defeated Lithuania on Sunday.
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Two of Tottenham’s Dutch stars were in the squad for the Netherlands’ slender win over Lithuania on Sunday evening. Both Micky van de Ven and Xavi Simons were available to Ronald Koeman for the away game that the Dutch ended up winning 3-2 after an under-par display.
The Netherlands gave away a two-goal lead within the first half but Memphis Depay scored a second goal to wrap up a brace in the second half and secure all three points. The win means the Netherlands stay at the top of their group, goal difference above Poland but with a game in-hand still to play. Koeman’s men are also three points ahead of Finland in third place with a game in-hand.
In the Lithuania win, Spurs man Van de Ven got off the bench in the 62nd minute, coming on for Nathan Aké at left-back. Football Oranje rated the players from the game, and they gave Van de Ven a 6/10, reasoning: “Offered pace on the left wing in the closing stages.”
New Tottenham signing Xavi Simons did not make it off the bench, with Wout Weghorst and Sam Steijn the attacking substitutions, with Steijn coming on in the position Simons likely would have played. Koeman also made a defensive substitution by bringing on Matthijs de Ligt for winger Donyell Malen.
Koeman was not happy with the overall performance, telling NOS: "I'm a little angry. We played with fire today. Fortunately, it didn't cost us any points today, but it could have been disastrous. The urgency diminished. Players started doing things ten to 15 percent less. We shouldn't be getting into so much trouble here, even at the end of the game. Then I have to add a fifth defender for extra height and power. That's not what you want to do, but I do want to win."
On Memphis’ goals, he added: “We can be happy he was there. He scored two very good goals. The first and last, too. He can be proud of that. We also have a history. I supported him in a period when others might not have done so, but he proves beyond doubt that he is still the best striker."
During TV coverage, former Netherlands star Rafael van der Vaart was very critical. "First of all, you should be utterly ashamed,” he said. “Of course, you want to get off to a good start in a game, and that's what they managed. And then you let it slip away. That says something about the nonchalance that everyone seems to possess. Schouten does nothing at all. Everyone thinks: it'll be fine, it'll be fine, and no one intervenes. And that's almost like refusing to do your job."
Netherlands are now done for this international window, with games against Malta and Finland coming up in October. Van de Ven and Simons will now head back to North London ahead of Tottenham’s upcoming clashes with West Ham in the Premier League and Villarreal in the Champions League.