The Netherlands had every reason to step down a couple of gears but instead upped their pace thanks to a fine display by speedy forward Donyell Malen in Monday’s 3-0 win over North Macedonia, advancing their claims to be genuine Euro 2020 contenders. Frank de Boer’s side had already qualified for the knockouts as group winners but whereas Italy’s Roberto Mancini made sweeping changes for his side’s 1-0 win over Wales, the Dutchman fielded his strongest team in their final Group C game. One of the two changes he did make was to bring in 22-year-old Malen in place of Wout Weghorst, making the Netherlands even more potent in attack as they became the top scorers in the tournament with eight goals. Malen, who provided an assist less than three minutes after coming on in the 2-0 win over Austri...
Paris Saint-Germain have announced the signing of Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool on a three-year contract. The Ligue 1 giants made the announcement in a statement released on their official website on Thursday. “Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce the transfer of Georginio Wijnaldum. Arriving from Liverpool, the Netherlands international midfielder has signed with the club from the French capital until 30 June 2024. “Born in Rotterdam, and a product of the Sparta Rotterdam youth academy, he played for two of the biggest clubs in his homeland in Feyenoord (135 matches, 25 goals) and then PSV Eindhoven (154 matches, 56 goals) with whom he won the 2014-15 Eredivisie title. “After a season at Newcastle United, ‘Gini’ joined Liverpool FC in the summer of 2016. The ...
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk picked up a knee injury against Everton over the weekend and the Dutchman is set to be sidelined for several months. It seems unlikely that the player will return to action again this season and his teammate Gini Wijnaldum has now hit out at Jordan Pickford whose reckless tackle resulted in the long-term injury to Van Dijk. During the pre-match presser for the Ajax game, the Dutch midfielder revealed that it was a stupid tackle and the Everton player did not bother to think about the consequences when he went into the challenge. Wijnaldum also claimed that reckless tackles like this have been quite common from Everton players in the derby games. Wijnaldum on van Dijk’s injury: “Of course we are upset. The way Pickford went in was completely stupid. I don’...