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The Netherlands lost ground to Italy in Group 1 of the UEFA Nations League as the Dutchmen slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home earlier today. Italy were the better side for large periods of the game and came away with three well-deserved points.
Roberto Mancini's well-drilled Italian side created more chances in the first half and a solitary goal by Nicolo Barella managed to consign the Netherlands to a disappointing defeat. The Netherlands never looked at their best in this game and will have to do much better in their remaining games to return to the top of the group.
The Netherlands struggled against Roberto Mancini's Italy side
The Netherlands enjoyed a fair chunk of the possession but failed to create chances of note in the opening stages of the game. Italy looked threatening down the left flank and Nicolo Zaniolo nearly took full toll of a spectacular Leonardo Spinazzola run but failed to get his overhead kick on target.
Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne caused plenty of chaos on the left flank and took their fair share of shots in the first half. Apart from an excellent run from Georginio Wijnaldum, the Netherlands were far below their best and did not give Gianluigi Donnarumma much to do before half-time.
Italy deservedly broke the deadlock at the stroke of half-time as a brilliantly worked move involving Leonardo Spinazzola and Lorenzo Insigne saw Ciro Immobile with the ball at the edge of the Netherlands penalty area. The Lazio striker picked out Nicolo Barella with an inch-perfect cross and the midfielder made no mistake with his header.
The game started to open up in the second half as the Netherlands pushed further up the pitch in search of an equaliser. Italy presented a potent threat on the counter, however, and did manage to create a few chances of their own.
Italy thwarted the Netherlands' attempts to score an equaliser on several occasions towards the end of the game. The Dutch did create a few chances but largely failed to trouble Donnarumma and will be thoroughly disappointed with their listless performance tonight.
Netherlands Player Ratings
Jasper Cillessen - 7/10
Jasper Cillessen was a reliable performance in the Netherlands goal and while there were a few misplaced passes from the former Barcelona shot-stopper, he pulled off a few good saves from Insigne and could do nothing about Barella's bullet header.
Nathan Ake - 6/10
Nathan Ake did not have much to do for the Netherlands as most of Italy's attacks were engineered on the opposite flank. The Manchester signing should have done much better to impede Nicolo Barella's header, however, and did not have a particularly positive outing.
Virgil van Dijk - 5.5/10
Virgil van Dijk was well below his best today and did not marshal the Netherlands' defensive lines as well as he would have liked. The Liverpool captain was caught flat-footed for Italy's goal and will not be thrilled with his performance.
Joel Veltman - 6/10
Joel Veltman's game got off to a nervy start as Italy decided to target the Dutch centre-back. The Brighton star held his own against Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile and recovered well on a number of occasions.
Hans Hateboer - 5.5/10
Hans Hateboer struggled in the first half and looked visibly tired as Italy initiated most of their attacks down his flank. Lorenzo Insigne and Leonardo Spinazzola had field days against the Netherlands full-back today. Hateboer was also uncharacteristically ineffective in the final third and was taken off in the second half.
Marten de Roon - 7/10
Marten de Roon was one of the Netherlands' better players on the night and was engaged in an intriguing battle with Manuel Locatelli and Jorginho in the middle of the pitch. The Atalanta midfielder did the dirty work well and broke up several Italy attacks.
Frenkie de Jong - 6.5/10
Frenkie de Jong endured a frustrating evening and was far below his lofty standards tonight. The Barcelona maestro did enjoy a few good moments but largely failed to impact the game.
Donny van de Beek - 5.5/10
The new Manchester United signing did not have much of an impact in the first half as the Netherlands struggled to assert themselves against Italy in the final third. Van de Beek nearly scored after latching on to Wijnaldum's cross in the second half and was replaced by Steven Bergwijn.
Georginio Wijnaldum - 6.5/10
Georginio Wijnaldum did not start the game well but had a few bright moments towards the end of the first half and registered the Netherland's first shot on target with a mazy dribble. The Liverpool midfielder had much more of an impact in the second half but failed to inspire his side to a victory.
Quincy Promes - 5.5/10
Apart from a few bright moments in the first half, Quincy Promes offered next to nothing in the final third and struggled with his decision-making on several occasions.
Memphis Depay - 6.5/10
Memphis Depay endured an unhappy evening and was unable to find a way past a resolute Italy defence. The Lyon striker was frustrated towards the end of the game and ruled himself out of the next fixture with an unnecessary yellow card.
Substitutes
Steven Bergwijn - 6.5/10
Steven Bergwijn gave the Netherlands some much-needed impetus in the second half but could not do enough against the electric Leonardo Spinazzola. The Tottenham winger gave a good account of himself and is likely to start the next game.
Denzel Dumfries - 6.5/10
Denzel Dumfries was an improvement over Hateboer on the right flank in the second half and linked up well with his fellow substitute Bergwijn on a few occasions.
Luuk de Jong - 6/10
Luuk de Jong came on late in the second half and was unable to impact the game in his limited time on the pitch.
Italy Player Ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6.5/10
Apart from a couple of regulation saves, Italy shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma was a spectator for large sections of the game and was rarely tested by a Netherlands attack that failed to step up to the plate on the night.
Leonardo Spinazzola - 8/10
Leonardo Spinazzola put in arguably his best performance in an Italy shirt tonight. The full-back did not give Hans Hateboer a moment's rest and used his change of pace brilliantly to create several chances in the first half.
Giorgio Chiellini - 7.5/10
Giorgio Chiellini summoned all his wisdom and experience tonight to frustrate the Netherlands and smartly thwarted the opposition's forwards with some well-timed interventions. Chiellini was the most vocal player on the pitch and led his defensive unit with ease.
Leonardo Bonucci - 6.5/10
Leonardo Bonucci was not as influential as his defensive counterpart but played his part well and rarely put a foot wrong tonight. The Italy centre-back was troubled by Memphis Depay on a few occasions but recovered well and had a good game.
Danilo D'Ambrosio - 6.5/10
Danilo D'Ambrosio had a relatively quiet game as most of Italy's attacking play was directed through their left flank. The full-back carried out his defensive duties with aplomb and won his battles against Quincy Promes.
Jorginho - 7/10
Jorginho may not have influenced the game as much as he would have liked but still managed to play some sumptuous long balls to find his teammates in space in the final third. The Chelsea midfielder also played a few excellent through-balls and put in a tidy performance against the Netherlands.
Manuel Locatelli - 7/10
Manuel Locatelli was not as influential as his midfield counterparts for Italy but did well to hound the Netherlands' players off the ball. The Sassuolo star was taken off for Bryan Cristante in the second half.
Nicolo Barella - 8/10
Nicolo Barella was Italy's hero against the Netherlands tonight and scored the only goal of the game with an excellent header that gave Jasper Cillessen no chance. The Inter Milan midfielder was excellent off the ball and found himself in excellent positions in the final third.
Nicolo Zaniolo - 7/10
Nicolo Zaniolo gave a good account of himself in the first half and played some excellent cross-field passes to Leonardo Spinazzola. The Italy winger had to be taken off before half-time after suffering a heart-breaking ACL injury.
Lorenzo Insigne - 7.5/10
Lorenzo Insigne was Italy's primary creative force on the left flank and magically created space for himself on several occasions. The Napoli forward was also involved in the build-up to Italy's goal and served as the link between the midfield and the attack.
Ciro Immobile - 8/10
Ciro Immobile was a constant thorn in the Netherlands' side and used his physicality and pace to torment Netherlands defender Joel Veltman on numerous occasions. The Lazio striker was the focal point of many of Italy's attacks and picked up an excellent assist on the night.
Substitutes
Moise Kean - 6/10
Moise Kean was unable to run at the Netherlands defence tonight and did not trouble Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk in the second half. The former Juventus forward did have two excellent opportunities to score but failed to hit the target.
Bryan Cristante - 6/10
Bryan Cristante was sent on to the pitch to add some steel into Italy's midfield. The substitute had only ten minutes of time on the pitch against the Netherlands and was unable to influence the game.
Federico Chiesa - NA
Federico Chiesa came on for Italy in stoppage-time and did not have enough time to make an impact on the game.
