Netherlands 2-0 Latvia: 5 talking points as Oranje pick up their first points in the World Cup Qualifiers

#3 Both teams hit the woodwork tonight as the game failed to produce goals despite plenty of chances

Netherlands v Latvia - FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Qualifier

While the game saw one-way traffic for the most part, both teams endured a bit of hard luck tonight, as the woodwork stopped them from scoring goals tonight.

The hosts hit the woodwork not once but twice in the first half itself, with headers from Davy Klaassen and Luuk De Jong hitting the bar. If any of those efforts would've gone in, it would've helped the Oranje post a positive goal difference after the game.

Chances were few and far between for Latvia, who only had 23% of the possession tonight. In total, they had just four shots tonight, with none of them on target. To add to their misery, the one good chance that they got ended up deflecting behind off the post.

All in all, it seems Lady Luck was not shining so brightly on either side tonight.

#2 Addressing the poor finishing from his attackers needs to be a key issue for Frank de Boer

The Netherlands recorded a 2-0 win tonight and though it was a good result after their fall against Turkey last time around, the scoreline should've been much more arousing.

16 efforts from Netherlands in that first half4 on target2 against the woodwork1 goalClinical finishing an issue in that first-half.
— Dutch Football (@FootballOranje_) March 27, 2021

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The Dutch attackers lacked precision going forward and their wastefulness was for all to see, as they ended up scoring just twice from 37 shots, with 11 on target. It was not the first time they had been wasteful in front of the goal.

In the game against Turkey, they recorded 20 shots on goal, 11 more than the winners from that game, but could not make them count. Tonight, after a wasteful first-half performance, it was expected that they'd come back stronger in the second half but the carelessness continued.

#1 Oranje welcome back fans to the stands with an unconvincing yet, much-needed win

Tonight's game marked the return of fans to the stadium for an international match for the first time since 19 November 2019. 5000 fans were allowed into the Amsterdam ArenA, but they had to follow strict protocols in the wake of COVID-19.

The game was also special because the head referee for the game was Stéphanie Frappart, the first woman in the 116-year history of the Netherlands men's team to lead an international match.

While the fans are sure to have enjoyed watching their national team play after such a long period, it was not a convincing win and one can only hope that the talented group of players will start producing results soon.

Edited by Rohit Mishra