0-1: Netherlands, despite a good Frenkie de Jong, skids against Algeria

The Netherlands and Algeria played a close match in De Kuip in the rain in preparation for the World Cup that is just around the corner. It seemed like it was going to end in a tie, but the African team broke the deadlock in the 86th minute with a great goal from Moussa into the top corner (0-1). Ronald Koeman’s team will debut on the 14th against Japan, while its rival will do so on the 17th before none other than Lionel Messi’s Argentina, current champion.

Frenkie de Jong played 70 minutes and left a good feeling. The best stretches of his team were with him on the field. When he left, they lost control of the ball and therefore of the game as they were a team that attacks better than it defends.

The Oranje started the game well, accumulating several chances. A shot against Malen’s post, another chance for the Roma striker and a couple of approaches from Reijnders, who was met with a response from an inspired Luca Zidane. The son of the legendary Zinedine is establishing himself as Algeria’s first goalkeeper thanks to his saves. And he played with a mask. The Algerians barely threatened Verbruggen’s goal, as only after a loss behind van Hecke did Mahrez come close to scoring.

In the second half, many players stayed in the locker room and the pace began to plummet. The Netherlands had a rather sterile domain. With the departure of Frenkie, head of ball operations, Vladimir Petkovic’s men stopped being so crouched and began to combine in the opposite field, without excessive danger. Until Hadj Moussa, a Feyenoord player who knows that field inside and out, drove down the right, looked for his good leg and with a lot of effort put it in the same squad (86′). A great goal.