Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay were decisive as Netherlands beat France 2-0 to relegate Germany in the Nations League and give themselves a chance at reaching the Finals.
2018/2019 UEFA Nations League
2-0
Match Events
2' CHANCE! Wijnaldum's shot saved by Lloris
CHANCE! Lloris comes to France's rescue. Depay gets in behind the French defence before cutting the ball back for Wijnaldum, who hits the target with a powerful strike. Luckily for France, Lloris is alert and makes a smart block.
29' CLOSE! Pavard's long shot cleared by Cillessen
SHOT! Griezmann's free-kick is cleared only as far as Pavard who is 25 yards from goal. The full-back strikes it first time, making a clean connection with the ball. However, the effort is always rising and the ball flashes over the crossbar.
44'GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 France (Wijnaldum)
NETHERLANDS HAVE THEIR BREAKTHROUGH! It's 1-0, and a deserved lead for the hosts!
A delicious cross in from the left presents Babel with a glorious chance from in close, but he shoots straight at Lloris from point-blank range, though there's nothing the keeper can do to deny Wijnaldum from turning in the rebound from five yards!
Goal! The home team take a 1-0 lead through Georginio Wijnaldum.
62' Outstanding double-save from Lloris!
A brilliantly worked move from the hosts sees Dumfries picked out unmarked at the far post on the end of a perfect cross from Blind, but Lloris reacts superbly to keep it out, before denying the full-back on the doorstep again on the rebound!
73' CHANCE! Depay's shot saved
LLORIS TO THE RESCUE AGAIN! France push forward after dealing with the corner, but Netherlands win the ball back straight away and break once again through Depay. The forward makes quick work of Pavard as he bursts into the penalty area, but Lloris makes a stunning save with his foot to keep the ball out at the near post!
96' GOAL! Netherlands 2-0 France (Depay)
Game, set and match to the Netherlands! It has to be a special effort to beat Lloris the form he's been in toinight and it's just that as Depay dinks the ball over the Tottenham goalkeeper to secure victory!
Match reports
Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay were decisive as Netherlands beat France 2-0 to relegate Germany in the Nations League and give themselves a chance at reaching the Finals.
Germany needed France to win to give them a realistic chance of escaping the drop, but Netherlands deserved their victory in Rotterdam to ensure Joachim Low's men are demoted from the top tier.
Netherlands can claim progression to the final four with a point in their last outing away to the relegated Germans.
The home side had the better of the first period and deservedly broke the deadlock 44 minutes in through Wijnaldum, who made amends for an earlier miss.
France never really showed the hunger to take control thereafter, and Depay wrapped things up with a stoppage-time penalty which beat the otherwise excellent Hugo Lloris in goal.
Line-ups
Netherlands XI: R. Babel, Wijnaldum, D.Blind, M. de Roon, Jasper Cillessen, Depay, Van Dijk, S. Bergwijn, Denzel Dumfries, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong
Subs: Strootman, J. Zoet, Luuk de Jong, De Vrij, M. Bizot, T. Vilhena, Aké, Quincy Promes, K.Tete, Donny van de Beek, P. Rosario, J. Dilrosun
France XI: B. Matuidi, H. Lloris, S. N'Zonzi, O. Giroud, A. Griezmann, Digne, R. Varane, N. Kanté, P. Kimpembe, B. Pavard, K. Mbappé
Subs: S. Mandanda, Sakho, M.Sissoko, A. Rami, D. Sidibé, A. Areola, Pléa, F. Thauvin, N. Fekir, F.Mendy, O. Dembélé, NDombele