Tactical Analysis: Netherlands vs. Austria

Between Austria’s 11 starters for their match at the Johan Cruyff Arena, they had just 23 league goals between them. The Netherlands meanwhile, had 42 goals between Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst alone. This stat is perhaps the best summary of Thursday evening’s game in group B.

Though Franco Foda’s Austrian side pressed high in the early minutes of the game, barely 10 minutes had gone before David Alaba recklessly stamped on Denzel Dumfries inside his own box. VAR awarded the penalty which was slammed home by Memphis Depay. The former Lyon man should have made it 2-0 inside 40 minutes, when Wout Weghorst unselfishly laid him off for a near-open net, only for Memphis to blast the ball over the bar.

Austria would fight back in the second half, having 7 shots aimed at 38-year-old Maarten Stekelenburg’s goal. Yet they would only hit one on target looking toothless throughout the second half, clearly missing the rightly-suspended Marko Arnautovic.

The same cannot be said for Frank de Boer’s side, whose decision to stick with the 3-5-2 was rewarded once again. Dumfries raced through alongside substitute & club teammate Donyell Malen to slot in for an open net, killing the game off at 2-0 with 20 minutes to spare.