‘Modern’ Oranje superior to ‘helpless’ Spain: ‘Torture in Mestalla threatens’ according to Spanish media | OneFootball

The Spanish media were impressed with the Netherlands on Thursday night as they drew 2-2 at De Kuip. While Luis de la Fuente’s side didn’t exactly shake off their own critics, the Spanish press saw potential Real Madrid players in both Jeremie Frimpong and Tijjani Reijnders.

The first reports after the match mainly praised debutant Dean Huijsen, yet Marca and El Mundo expressed their concerns in reflective articles about what they saw during the Nations League quarter-final first leg.

For example, the Madrid sports newspaper drew a comparison with the historic punishment during the 2014 World Cup, which was commemorated by a banner in the stands in Rotterdam with a large image of Robin van Persie.

‘The Nations League finals looked set to be a tough nut to crack, but thanks to a late equaliser from Mikel Merino, the title defence is in the hands of Mestalla. Valencia’s stadium and its fans never disappoint, but the memory of the punishment of Spain and Casillas during the 2014 World Cup will remain’, writes Marca in a review. ‘The Netherlands were superior to Spain for large parts of the match and gave the impression for a long time that they would deservedly win against a watery version of the European champions.’

Spain thus remain without a win on Dutch soil for the sixth match in a row. Marca found that the team radiated a certain ‘helplessness’ in large parts and states that ‘a much better’ showing is needed in Valencia to stop the ‘momentum’ of the Netherlands. El Mundo agrees. ‘A near-miraculous goal saved the Selección against the Netherlands, who played very modern football with three promising players and danced against a slow Spain.’

The newspaper referred to the ‘electric’ Jeremie Frimpong, who is capable of ‘hurting any team’ on the wing, the ‘exceptional attacking midfielder’ Tijjani Reijnders, and Cody Gakpo – who was unleashed by Pedro Porro for the equaliser. Frimpong and Reijnders made such an impression in De Kuip that they are tipped by AS as potential signings for Real Madrid.

According to El Mundo, the Oranje made it painfully clear that De la Fuente’s playing style has already ‘become dated’ in a few months. ‘The illustrious Koeman put together an almost devilish team with astonishing speed and directness.’ The ‘arrogant’ De la Fuente is accused of a poor choice of players, as Porro, Robin Le Normand and Pau Cubarsí all looked out of their depths. ‘Spain played like a headless chicken in the second half. The road to the semi-finals is far from open. With even more space for the fast Dutch attack, a torture at Mestalla is looming.’

The Dutch team also made an impression elsewhere across the border. The French media, for example, noted that Spain had ‘rarely been put to the test’ in recent times as they were on Thursday evening in De Kuip against a ‘lively’ Netherlands. In Belgium, ‘general’ Frenkie de Jong and Frimpong were highlighted as standouts. ‘Frimpong ran without a compass, but that made him just as elusive for the Spanish defenders’, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield