Netherlands Outshine Iceland With A 4-0 Win In Euro 2024 Warm-Up Match

The Netherlands concluded their Euro 2024 preparations with a decisive 4-0 victory over Iceland at De Kuip on Monday. Goals from Xavi Simons, Virgil van Dijk, Donyell Malen, and Wout Weghorst secured the win. Ronald Koeman's side had previously defeated Canada 4-0 in their penultimate warm-up game, showcasing their readiness for the tournament.

The Dutch team took the lead after 23 minutes when Denzel Dumfries headed Joey Veerman's chipped pass across goal for Simons to convert. The second goal came four minutes into the second half. Nathan Ake's flick-on from a corner found Van Dijk, who headed the ball past Iceland goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson.

Iceland, coming off a memorable win over England at Wembley, nearly halved the deficit when Stefan Thordarson's 30-yard drive was tipped onto the post by Bart Verbruggen. However, the Netherlands extended their lead in the 73rd minute when Memphis Depay played Malen in to finish into the bottom-right corner.

The final goal came in stoppage time as substitute Wout Weghorst tapped home from close range. A VAR review confirmed the goal after Malen was initially flagged offside before crossing for Weghorst.

Xavi Simons scored his first goal for the Netherlands in his 14th appearance, with his 24th shot for the national team. This milestone was highlighted by OptaJohan on Twitter:

24 - Xavi Simons has scored his first goal for @OnsOranje in his 14th appearance, with what his 24th shot was for the Netherlands. Relief. pic.twitter.com/czpAO1sp1m

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 10, 2024

Dumfries: A Key Asset

Without a top-class number nine, the Netherlands will likely need to distribute scoring responsibilities among various players to succeed at Euro 2024. One of their key assets is Denzel Dumfries, one of Europe's top attacking full-backs. Dumfries has now been involved in 19 goals for the Netherlands (six goals and 13 assists), surpassing Daley Blind's record of 18 goal contributions by any Oranje defender.

The Netherlands' next challenge is their opening Group D game against Poland, scheduled six days from now. With their recent performances, Koeman's squad appears well-prepared to make a strong showing at Euro 2024.