BERLIN – Dutch coach Ronald Koeman did not mince his words about his team’s performance, securing a place in the round of 16, after their defeat to Austria in their final Euro Cup Group D match on Tuesday night in Berlin.
“Do you have enough time? Because I can list quite a few mistakes,” Koeman told reporters after Austria recorded a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands that sent them into the round of 16 of Euro 2024 as group winners.
“Normally we have good defenders. They don’t score many goals against us. Not today,” he said, describing the defensive position as running like a headless chicken. “It was horrible, very bad, so we didn’t control the game,” he said.
“It’s about the responsibility of following your man. If you look at the second and third goals, it’s too easy.”
However, he maintained some optimism about the team’s chances heading into the next round.
“It has to be absolutely much better in many ways. But it is also with these eleven (players) that it can be achieved,” he said.
Austria topped the group with six points, France second with five after a 1-1 draw with Poland and the Netherlands third with four. Poland, already eliminated, finished with one point.
An own goal from Donyell Malen had given Austria the lead six minutes into the match, but Cody Gakpo equalized shortly after the break. The Austrians took the lead just before the 60th minute before Dutchman Memphis Depay equalized again in the 75th. With 10 minutes remaining in the match, Marcel Sabitzer secured victory for Austria and first place for his team.
The Dutch had beaten Poland 2-1 in their first game in Hamburg and were lucky not to lose to a wasteful France in their second game in Leipzig, escaping with a 0-0 draw. REUTERS
