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NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 22:09
The Dutch Juniors have won an exhibition match with their peers from Mexico. A goal from debutant Maxim Dekker was enough for a minimal victory in the Asito stadium in Almelo: 1-0.
AZ defender Dekker was not the only one who played for the Dutch Juniors for the first time. Thom van Bergen (FC Groningen) and Ezechiel Banzuzi (OH Leuven) also made their debut for the highest youth team of the KNVB.
Players like Gjivai Zechiël (Feyenoord), Max Bruns (FC Twente) and Tyrese Asante (ADO Den Haag) had also not played often for the Dutch Juniors, but were in the starting line-up against Mexico.
Permanent employees such as Ryan Flamingo, Kenneth Taylor and Million Manhoef were spared by national coach Michael Reiziger. They will probably play in the European Championship qualifying match against Sweden next Monday. The Dutch Juniors have already qualified for that European Championship, next year in Slovakia.
Combative spirit
Reiziger said this week that he had consciously chosen Mexico as his opponent in this practice match. He hoped to find a different type of opponent than the Dutch Juniors normally face. Reiziger wanted to see a match with a combative opponent.
That worked. Within two minutes the first Mexican received a yellow card, followed after fifteen minutes by Bruns. Four more yellow pictures would be added during the match, all for Mexicans.
Pro ShotsZekiel makes a tackle
In terms of football, the level was not high. The Dutch Juniors did not give away any opportunities, but also created very little themselves. Only midfielder Zechiël, who headed on goal twice in succession, came close to scoring in the first half.
Only in the second half did the Dutch Juniors begin to convert the balance of power into opportunities. Ernest Poku hit the post after a dribble, Van Bergen fell just short on a rebound and Ohio became dangerous with a header.
Ultimately it was defender Dekker who broke the spell. After a highlight from Banzuzi in a corner situation, Dekker was attentive enough to turn away from his opponent and shoot the ball hard. He enhanced his debut with a goal, which also decided the match.
Traveler wants to write history
National coach Reiziger showed himself content with the game, despite the minimal score. “We got exactly what we were looking for, namely more mental resistance. It was a physical battle, in which not everything went smoothly. I think the boys handled it well.”
Pro ShotsMichael Reiziger
Match winner Dekker had a dream debut by scoring the only goal. “My parents were on the plane and were not there tonight, but I already received a nice text from them. There were many friends and my girlfriend in the stands, so all in all it was a memorable evening,” the debutant cheered with a broad smile.
The solid match, plus the winning goal comes as a mental boost for the defender. At the beginning of this season, Dekker received a red card in the Premier League, which meant he was suspended from the stands for three games to watch ‘his’ AZ.
“That was difficult, so this works for self-confidence. On an evening like this, all the hard work is rewarded. This is what you do it all for.”
One hundred percent score
On Monday evening, the Dutch Juniors will play their last European Championship qualifying match against Young Sweden. With a 100% score of thirty points from ten matches, they can end the run-up to next year’s European Championships in Slovakia undefeated.
“That would mean history, because no Dutch Junior team has ever achieved that,” says Reiziger. “As a sportsman you want the highest possible result, so that’s what we’re going for.”
