In the second game of Group C, the Netherlands defeated Ukraine 3-2.
Both teams provided the best game so far at the 2021 European Championship with attractive football.
Amsterdam - Oranje celebrated a successful comeback on the big football stage at the EM * thanks to Bundesliga star Wout Weghorst.
The Netherlands fought their way to a 3-2 (0-0) win against Ukraine after their seven-year role as a spectator at World Cup and European Championship tournaments - and thus confirmed their place among the title candidates.
EM 2021: Netherlands take a 2-0 lead
Captain Georginio Wijnaldum (52nd) and Wolfsburg's striker Weghorst (59th) initially ensured a calming leadership under the eyes of the Dutch royal couple Willem Alexander and Maxima.
A dream goal by Andrij Jarmolenko (75th) and the hit by Roman Yaremtschuk (79th) brought the guests the equalizer, in the end Denzel Dumfries (85th) made the Elftal's first European Championship victory in 13 years perfect.
Bondscoach Frank de Boer started with Weghorst in the starting line-up despite the almost traditional criticism from Dutch old international players.
In the defense of the hosts, 19-year-old Jurrien Timber from Ajax Amsterdam replaced Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus Turin, who was suffering from a groin injury.
In the team of de Boers opposite Andrei Shevchenko, a quintet from Dynamo Kiev provided the scaffolding.
EM 2021: Netherlands against Ukraine with a fast-paced game in half-time one
The 16,000 spectators in the Johan Cruyff Arena experienced a fast-paced and entertaining game in the first round.
The hosts took command right from the start and, driven by the lively whirlwind Wijnaldum, came up with several chances early on.
But Oranje * was initially unable to reward himself for his high percentage of possession.
Memphis Depay and Dumfries missed their first good opportunities or, like Wijnaldum (38th), failed against the Ukrainian goalkeeper Georgi Buschtschan.
On the other hand, during one of the very few relief attacks, the East European England legionnaire Jarmolenko fell in the penalty area, but the sovereign referee Felix Brych (Munich) allowed the game to continue on his second appearance at a European Championship tournament.
Shortly before the break, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg saved the Elftal from an unfortunate deficit again against Jarmolenko as a replacement for the corona-infected regular goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen on the day before the start of the European Championship .
EM 2021: Netherlands starts the second half with no ideas
In the first few minutes after the break, de Boer's team seemed unexpectedly lacking in ideas and largely silenced the fans.
The first goal was all the more surprising: After a blunder by Vitaly Mykolenko on the left defensive side of Ukraine and an unsuccessful rescue act by Buschtschan, Wijnaldum released the hosts with a placed left-hand shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Inspired by the leadership they deserved overall, the Dutch then put the disillusioned Ukrainians * under more pressure again.
Just seven minutes later, Weghorst made it 2-0 in his eighth international match for the European champions of 1988 after another uncertainty from Mykolenko with a dry shot for the 2-0 - and at the same time thanked de Boer's trust.
EM 2021: Ukrainians catching up is not enough against Holland
The hosts subsequently pushed for more goals, but Ukraine now ventured forward more often.
Jarmolenko made the Dutch tremble for success with his remarkable left flick, Yaremchuk silenced the fans in the arena with his header.
And at the end of the day, Dumfries created a festive mood.
The victory ultimately put the 2014 World Cup third-placed in a good starting position for the further preliminary round in Group C to fight for a place in the round of 16.
On Thursday (June 17) Weghorst and Co. will meet Austria in a duel between the opening winners and four days later (June 21 / Monday) at the end of the group against EM newcomer North Macedonia.
(SID) *
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