What is the UEFA Nations League? UEFA's new national team competition replaces most friendlies with competitive matches, allowing nations to play against equally ranked teams. The four group winners of the top-ranked League A qualify for the UEFA Nations League finals in June 2019. For the remaining sides there is promotion and relegation to play for, not to mention a potential route to UEFA EURO 2020. How do the Leagues work? Teams play each other home and away, with the four group winners of League A qualifying for the UEFA Nations League Finals in June 2019 that feature semi-finals, a third-place match and the final. The group winners in Leagues B, C and D gain promotion and those who finish bottom of the
Tag: Netherlands
Netherlands vs Portugal – A game with 4 red cards and 16 yellow cards
In World Cup matches, physicality often escalates when top teams face off. During the 2006 World Cup Round of 16, it reached unprecedented levels. Surprisingly, it was Portugal and the Netherlands clashing—teams not usually known for aggression. From the start, Russian referee Valentin Ivanov struggled to control the game. He handed out a record of four red cards and 16 yellow cards, both FIFA records. The Netherlands entered the match as favorites after winning all their group-stage games. Portugal, on the other hand, secured second place after a draw with Mexico and a loss to Iran. Chaos erupted when Marco Van Basten got booked in the 2nd minute. Luis Figo headbutted an opponent but only received a yellow card, despite FIFA rules
Netherlands: The Unfortunate Team That Lost Three World Cup Finals
The Netherlands is the only team in the World Cup to qualify for 3 finals and lost all 3. Details about all 3 final defeats are here. 1974 World Cup finals vs Germany West Germany was led by Franz Beckenbauer, while the Dutch had their star Johan Cruyff, and their Total Football system which had dazzled the competition. The start of the match was delayed as the ground staff at the stadium had removed the corner flags for the tournament's closing ceremony (which preceded the final) but then forgot to put them back. With just a minute gone on the clock, following a solo run, Cruijff was brought down by Uli Hoeneß in the German penalty area, and the Dutch took the lead from the ensuing penalty by Johan Neeskens before any German