Orange under 17 already eliminated at EC after defeat against England
NOS Football–
Orange under 17 loses to England and is already eliminated
The Dutch under-17 team has failed to advance beyond the group stage of the European Championships for the first time since 2015. After Thursday’s 2-0 defeat against Switzerland, the Dutch under 17 lost 4-1 to England in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday. Placement for the quarter-finals is no longer possible.
On Wednesday, the Netherlands will conclude the European Championship against Croatia, also already eliminated, and then the team will return home. England and Switzerland battle for the group win.
The elimination brings an end to a run of five European Championships in which the Netherlands did survive the group stage. In 2016, the semifinals were the finish line, in 2017 the quarterfinals. This was followed by two titles (2018 and 2019) and a final place (2022).
England had won the first EC match in Hungary against Croatia 1-0 and with a win could not only eliminate the Netherlands, but also secure themselves a spot in the last eight. Earlier on Sunday, Switzerland recorded its second win: 2-1 against Croatia.
The Dutch team of national coach Pieter Schrassert Bert had a lousy start against England. Myles Lewis-Skelly ran away from captain Tygo Land, was allowed to run unhindered into the Orange defense and shot England into the lead in the seventh minute.
On goal for England was Haarlem-born Ajax player Tommy Setford, who has an English father and a Dutch mother. The goalkeeper distinguished himself with a fine save on a shot that went toward the crossbar from AZ player Jasper Hartog.
Hard and high shot
England retreated with the 1-0 lead and let the Netherlands make the play. That superiority produced little danger in front of the English goal. In the 71st minute, however, it was a hit. Sparta Rotterdam striker Jesse Bal found Hartog and the outfielder surprised Setford with a shot hard and high into the short corner.
With the 1-1 score, the Netherlands could hope to continue in the tournament, but England quickly regained the lead. A low corner kick by Manchester City player Isaiah Dada-Mascoll ended up in the goal at the first post after weak intervention by the Orange defense.
In the closing stages, things went from bad to worse for the Netherlands. Substitute Sven van der Plas (PSV) got red after bringing down Zakariya Lovelace, and a foul on Lovelace by PSV’s Wessel Kuhn resulted in a penalty kick.
Dada-Mascoll took the penalty kick in injury time and Justin Oboavwoduo also made it 4-1.
