World Cup

Oranje Still Hard to Start a Fight: Still leaning on

4 October 2026·4 min read·María Rosa Fernández
Oranje Still Hard to Start a Fight: Still leaning on

The problem of the Netherlands national football team continues with the poor opening of their matches, which was again seen against Greece and Germany. Noa Lang and Coach Xavi insisted on the need to change.

Oranje Still Hard to Start a Fight: Still Leaning on

According to Nos.

Context

Noa Lang, a winger from Napoli, gave an honest analysis of the Oranje situation, showing the need for change. His remarks emphasized the need for the team to show their ability in the early stages of the match to keep pace with top teams like Germany and Spain.

Why it matters

The Oranje's continued slow start is cause for concern, especially in their bid to keep pace with Europe's top teams. Their lack of discipline in the early part of the match hinders their success, causing a poor season outlook. In previous matches, like the match against Greece and Germany, it became clear that they need to adjust their start to improve their match impact.

Key Points

  • Oranje Still Hard to Start a Fight: Still leaning on.
  • Concern continues to surround the Netherlands after their frequent letdowns in the early stages of matches.
  • Oranje begins vaak in sleepstand: allene Duitsland nog zwakker in eerste helft.
The problems of the Netherlands national football team, known as the Oranje, continue to loom over their slow start in international matches. Their most recent game against Greece, which ended 2-2, again saw the team barely survive in the second half after a cold first half. According to records from 2023, the Netherlands have trailed eleven times at halftime in international matches, including matches against Greece and Germany (both ended 1-1). This is equaled only by Germany, who have been in this situation more times (thirteen times) than Oranje. It's noticeable that the gap is far compared to Spain, who have only trailed twice in the last 51 games — a testament to the discipline and strength of the world champions. Noa Lang, winger from Napoli, pointed out the issue during the early part of the game. "This should not happen again and again. If we want to keep up with the top-level countries, we have to show that we really are a top team and win these matches," said Lang. Coach Xavi also admitted that the team should look at itself and change their mentality before the start of each match.
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The need to change is felt not only in attack. Since the series against Thessaloniki, the Netherlands have gone eleven consecutive games without keeping a clean sheet — a compound of long-standing defensive problems. Historically, the last time this happened was in the 1950s, when they went on a sixteen-game winning streak from 1956 to 1958. They also had a poor performance in their own defense in the first half against Greece, who recorded five shots by the Netherlands before halftime but received seven shots from the opponent, two of which resulted in goals. Despite this, it was felt that they recovered in the second half — a pattern that has been seen repeatedly in recent matches against Serbia and Germany. This continued weakness is a big question mark for the Oranje in their preparations approaching major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup 2026. If the slow start is not addressed, it will clearly be a hindrance to their ambition to return to the pinnacle of European and world football.

What's next

The Netherlands should focus on their mentality and discipline before matches to avoid these mistakes in the future. The next games will be important to see if they can recover and get a better result. If they don't get off to a good start, they may struggle to get into the next competitions, especially matches against top-tier countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the result of Nederland's match against Greece?

Nederland's match against Greece ended 2-2.

What effect does the result have on the Netherlands' standings?

The Netherlands are constantly trailing in the score at halftime in their international matches, causing problems for their performance.

How many times has the Netherlands been behind at halftime in international matches?

Eleven times the Netherlands has trailed in the score at halftime in international matches.

What is the Netherlands' next match?

There is no specific information about Netherl's next match ands in the given context.

Who made the statement about the issue of the Netherlands' slow start?

Noa Lang, winger from Napoli, gave a statement about the issue of the Netherlands' slow start.

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Mga Madalas na Itanong

What was the result of Nederland's match against Greece?
Nederland's match against Greece ended 2-2.
What effect does the result have on the Netherlands' standings?
The Netherlands are constantly trailing in the score at halftime in their international matches, causing problems for their performance.
How many times have the Netherlands been behind at halftime in international matches?
Eleven times the Netherlands has trailed at halftime in international matches.
What is the Netherlands' next match?
There is no specific information about the Netherlands' next match in the given context.
Who made the statement about the issue of the Netherlands' slow start?
Noa Lang, winger from Napoli, gave a statement about the issue of the Netherlands' slow start.
What is the next fixture to watch?
Fans should follow the involved clubs' upcoming schedules as coaches react to this result in their preparation.
World Cup 2026NederlandDuitslandGriekenlandLa TriNoa Lang

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