North Macedonia 0-3 Holland: Gini Wijnaldum nets twice as Frank de Boer’s side extend 100% record

As this tournament has unfolded and the Netherlands have cruised into the knockout stages with a 100 per cent record, both Liverpool and Barcelona might be regretting the one they allowed to get away.

Central to the Dutch’s progress has been captain Georginio Wijnaldum who is a very different proposition in the colours of his country.

Given the freedom and licence to get forward, Wijnaldum has thrived and added three more goals to his impressive international goal tally, as many as anyone else has managed so far in this tournament.

Two goals against North Macedonia took Wijnaldum to 25 goals in 78 for the Dutch – and past the great Marco van Basten’s 24 – compared to the 22 he managed in 237 games over five years at Liverpool, a stark contrast in records for club and country.

Watching Wijnaldum – Netherlands captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool might not be the only ones wondering what might have been following his Anfield exit this summer on a free transfer.

Barcelona will be surely too, after failing to finalise a deal that appeared on the cards for some time before Paris Saint-Germain swooped to sign him at the 11th hour.

They can at least console themselves with the signing of Memphis Depay, who celebrated his move to the Nou Camp with his brightest display so far, containing a goal and another assist.

Group C top spot and qualification was already assured but Frank de Boer resisted the temptation to tinker too much, picking nine of his regular starters with plenty of time to rest before their last-16 tie in Budapest on Sunday.

The remaining two spots went to rising Dutch stars the natives have been keen to see more of.

Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch made his full international debut and striker Donyell Malen came in as a pacier alternative to targetman Wout Weghorst. Both were heavily involved, Gravenberch first.

The 18 year-old displayed all the confidence you might expect from someone tipped to be the Netherlands’ next best thing and was keen to make his mark.

Goran Pandev and Arijan Amedi felt the force of a couple of tackles from Gravenberch who, as well as being gifted, was also clearly not afraid to put himself about. He also threatened the North Macedonia goal after just a couple of minutes with a wobbling effort that swerved through the air.

In his final appearance for his country, which began with him being presented with a commemorative shirt from the Netherlands and ended with a guard of honour from his teammates and standing ovation when he was subbed, North Macedonia’s greatest player Goran Pandev displayed the sort of creativity and invention they will miss with two classy touches.

The first flicked Ivan Trickovski through to score a goal chalked off for offside. Midway through the half, a Pandev lay-off was perfect for Aleksandar Trajkovski whose long-range effort cracked against the post. Up to that point, the Dutch had got into promising positions but been guilty of overplaying or simply being too generous. 

Flicks failed to find their target while on more than one occasion they opted for an extra pass when a shot would have sufficed. In the 24th minute, they got it right. Once again referee Istvan Kovacs waved play-on when North Macedonia appealed for a free-kick, this time after Daley Blind’s forceful challenge on Pandev.

The ball broke to Malen who traded passes with Depay once and then crossed for his strike partner to sidefoot in his second goal of the tournament.

It would not be a Netherlands game without a trademark back-post chance for Dumfries, bombing into the box from his right-wing role, but he was denied by the sprawling Stole Dimitrievski who also kept out Depay with his feet.

Trickovski came to North Macedonia’s rescue to nod Matthijs de Ligt’s header over the bar but the respite was brief. Almost instantly, Gravenberch dispossessed Pandev, Steven Berghuis released Depay who crossed for Wijnaldum to tap in his second of the tournament.

After that it was just a matter of how many the Netherlands would score. Wijnaldum made it 3-0 seven minutes later, converting a rebound after another slick Dutch move, and he might have had a hat-trick on the hour. With his first touch off the bench Weghorst smashed a Frenkie de Jong pass against the bar.

And after sub Darko Churlinov had another offside Macedonia goal chalked off, Berghuis had an effort curled off the line.

Dmitrievski also frustrated Cody Gakpo and De Ligt from distance but the three goals were more than enough for another three points for the Netherlands