N Macedonia 0 Holland 3: Wijnaldum shows Liverpool what they’re missing with two goals as Dutch win three out of three
GINI WIJNALDUM waved farewell to Liverpool at the double – with a two goal blast that sent a message to the rest of Euro 2020.
The midfielder who is departing Anfield for Paris St Germain next season struck twice as Holland made it a clean sweep in Group C.
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A comfortable victory over the Macedonian minnows sealed a 100 percent record with three wins from three to confirm they are back on the big stage.
The Netherlands missed the last two major international tournaments but they march into Sunday’s last 16 clash in Budapest as major contenders now.
The result was meaningless with the Netherlands already confirmed group winners but after a shaky start the performance will have made rival nations sit up and take notice.
Wijnaldum, who is now joint-leading goalscorer with Patrik Schik and Cristiano Ronaldo on three goals, was set up both times by former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay who had given his country the lead after 24 minutes.
Depay has also just moved clubs and announced on Saturday he is joining Barcelona. His clinical strike was his second of the tournament but only his first from open play.
And it was a relief as Macedonia had put the ball in the net after only nine minutes only for it to be ruled out for the narrowest of offsides in a major let off for Frank de Boer’s side.
And if that wasn’t enough, the minnows playing in their first Euros, saw a legitimate shot cannon back off the post through striker Aleksandar Trajkovski in a second escape for the sloppy Dutch.
Macedonia skipper Goran Pandev was playing his 122nd and final international before retiring and left his last game with a guard of honour in the 68th minute.
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The former Inter midfielder who won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho, also took with him a sore ankle from a crunching tackle by Daley Blind on the edge of the Holland box.
It allowed the Netherlands to launch a quick attack led by Donyell Malen through the middle of the pitch where he eventually swapped passes with Depay, who lashed home a shot from just inside the box.
VAR double-checked the crunching challenge from Blind and the Macedonians were still raging after it got the nod as a clean tackle.
The Netherlands doubled their lead in the 59th minute when Depay set up stand-in skipper Wijnaldum, leaving Liverpool for Paris St Germain, for a tap-in in the 51st minute.
And Depay played an accidental part in goal number three when his shot inside the box was parried straight into the path of WIjnaldum who scored a second simple goal.
Sub Darko Charlinov was denied a consolation goal in the 73rd minute with another offside decision in a spirited performance for Macedonia.
De Boer’s team play one of the best third place teams from Groups D, E or F – meaning there is a chance they could play Scotland in the next round – or defending champions Portugal.
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