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Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee was the primary man for the Netherlands as they beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-2 of their opening group match of the Nations League.
Zirkzee opened the scoring for his aspect simply 13 minutes into proceedings.
RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons brilliantly manoeuvred his means into the opposition field and put in a ball that fortunately discovered its method to a lurking Zirkzee. The brand new United signing headed it in from shut vary to offer the Netherlands the lead.
Zirkzee was at it once more simply earlier than the break, this time with an outstanding help for Tijjjani Reijnders, who brilliantly acquired across the Bosnia and Herzegovina defence to information the ball into the again of the online.
Cody Gakpo’s third, Wout Weghorst’s fourth and Simons’ fifth objectives of the match ensured that strikes from Ermedin Demirovic and seasoned talisman Edin Dzeko have been rendered largely insignificant.
Zirkzee led the road for the Dutch for round 74 minutes earlier than he was taken off and changed by Weghorst.
Past his objective and help, the previous Bologna man had one other shot, which was off-target. He touched the ball 38 occasions and efficiently discovered his teammates with 19 of the 26 passes he tried. 4 of his passes have been key passes.
Zirkzee created a formidable three huge possibilities.
He delved into 5 floor duels however gained only one. Aerially, he was required to contest three challenges and he misplaced on all three events. The defensive aspect is a side of his recreation that Zirkzee shall be eager to enhance.
Zirkzee shared the pitch with fellow United teammate Matthijs de Ligt, who slotted proper subsequent to Virgil van Dijk on the coronary heart of the Netherlands’ backline.
De Ligt – who additionally joined United in the summertime – made one interception and one sort out.
He engaged in 4 floor duels, successful all of them. He additionally got here out on high in three of the six aerial duels he challenged for.
In what was an all-action show from the defender, he had 109 touches of the ball to his identify and efficiently accomplished 90 passes.
He related with two of the 5 lengthy balls he tried to ping.
(Stats obtained from Sofascore)
Zirkzee and De Ligt will definitely be hoping that their respective performances have been sufficient to earn them begins within the aspect’s subsequent match in opposition to Germany on Tuesday.
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