PARIS: The Netherlands anticipated criticism after an uninspired 4-0 away win over Malta in World Cup qualification on Thursday, but coach Ronald Koeman was having none of it after his side took a step closer to next year’s finals.

Television pundits, immediately after the away game, and Friday’s newspapers bemoaned an uninspired performance from the Dutch, who sit on 13 points from five games and went three points clear of Poland and Finland in the Group ‘G’ standings with three matches to play.

But Koeman said there was nothing to be critical about.

“We won 0-4, so that’s good. I didn’t find it frustrating, but we could have done things better. I thought we started well, even though we gave away a chance to Malta in the opening minutes,” he said, referring to captain Virgil van Dijk’s sloppy back pass.

“Jurrien Timber played very well in the build-up. He freed himself a few times towards midfield and then we were able to find our people there. After that, I thought, because they also started to put a lot of pressure, that we should have found solutions faster. Then the pace went down. But we gave maximum throttle until the end. There were a lot of good things, so I pay less attention to what you think,” he said after a critical question about the game.

“It is your right to look at it critically. I may think differently, right?” Koeman asked his television inquisitor.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo converted two spot-kicks either side of the break and set up Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for the Netherlands’s third goal, with Memphis Depay also netting late on.

Van Dijk was asked whether he enjoyed playing a match when the Dutch had little to gain, except points, and much to lose if they come unstuck against a team 166th in the world rankings.

“It’s part of playing international football and we have done our duty,” he responded. “I don’t think we should underestimate how difficult it is to play polished football through the middle. We tried, but we had to go around them. But we secured victory, that is the most important thing. We won, now on to the next one.”

The Dutch next meet Finland, who have 10 points from six games after a 2-1 win at home to Lithuania, in Amsterdam on Sunday.

Poland, who beat New Zealand 1-0 in a friendly international in Chorzow, also return to qualifying action on Sunday against Lithuania.

There are 12 groups in total, with each team that finishes in first place advancing directly to the 2026 World Cup. The second-placed teams will advance to the playoffs.

SCOTLAND KEEP WORLD CUP DREAM ALIVE

Scotland roared back to beat Greece 3-1 to boost their hopes of direct qualification for the World Cup.

The Greeks took the lead in Glasgow early in the second period through Kostas Tsimikas, before Scotland hit back through Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson and Lyndon Dykes to secure a second win from three Group ‘C’ qualifying matches for Steve Clarke’s side.

Scotland are looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

“Massive win. We’re not naive enough to know we weren’t at our best tonight. The reaction to going 1-0 down was brilliant,” said Christie. “Two massive games — that’s one ticked off and now onto Sunday [when Scotland take on Belarus].”

Tsimikas, on loan at Roma from Premier League champions Liverpool, gave Greece a deserved lead on 62 minutes as he stroked home a breaking ball from the edge of the six-yard box.

But Hampden Park roared two minutes later as Christie bundled in from close range to level for the hosts — the goal finally validated after a lengthy VAR check for offside.

A deflected Che Adams effort in the 75th minute bobbled narrowly wide as the home side woke up.

The decisive goal came five minutes later as Ferguson opened his account for Scotland, blasting in after the Greeks failed to clear an Andy Robertson free-kick.

Angus Gunn made a fine save to keep Scotland ahead in injury time, before Dykes pounced on a goalkeeping error at the other end to seal the win.

Denmark top Group ‘C’, though are level on seven points with Scotland and four ahead of Greece, courtesy of a handsome 6-0 win in Belarus.

Napoli striker Rasmus Hojlund continued his fine vein of form as he netted a first-half double for the Danes. Anders Dreyer also scored twice.

Croatia and the Czech Republic remain locked level at the summit of Group ‘L’ after playing out a goalless stalemate in Prague, however the 2018 World Cup runners-up have a game in hand.

Faroe Islands secured a third win in six outings in the group, beating Montenegro 4-0 in Torshavn, to sit four points behind the pair.

In Group ‘H’, Austria thumped San Marino 10-0 at home as Marko Arnautovic grabbed four goals, while Bosnia and Hercegovina drew 2-2 with Cyprus in Larnaca.

Cyprus’ 97th-minute equaliser from the spot condemned Bosnia to second place in the pool, two points behind the Austrians who also have a game in hand on the Bosnians.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2025