Jong the Oranje exploits Danish mistakes to take crucial step towards Euro

Young the Oranje is one step away from the European Championship, after they secured a 0‑3 victory in the play‑off against Denmark, while the Danish side scored two own goals themselves and the match started with a counter‑attack.

Own goals and counter‑attack

The match started with two own goals from Denmark within a quarter of an hour, putting the Netherlands quickly at 0‑2.

The first two Dutch goals came from a cross by right‑winger Givairo Read, which was headed by NEC defender Tobias Storm and then found the net with his left foot by the captain in the Danish goal.

Within the same quarter hour the second own goal from Denmark arrived, when Lucas Høgsberg, the player with the most caps, ran a low cross into his own net after a Dutch counter.

The third Dutch goal was scored by Thom van Bergen after a Denmark error in the own half.

Tobias Storm, Lucas Høgsberg and Thom van Bergen are on the scorers list with respectively the 6’, 14’ and 39’ minutes.

Aymen Sliti, Ro‑Zangelo Daal and other prospects kept the opponent constantly under pressure.

Coach Reiziger and squad selection

National team coach Michael Reiziger had adjusted the lineup compared to the internationals in October and relied on a counter‑oriented strategy against Denmark’s five‑man defence.

Reiziger praised his side as reliable, mature and effective, both defensively and offensively.

Ahead of the match Reiziger said: “They know what they have to do and they are ready for it.”

Jong the Oranje wants to learn from a harsh defeat in Denmark

The home match against Denmark will be played on Tuesday evening at 18.30 at the Yanmar Stadium of Almere City.

The squad currently includes few big names, but features players such as Aymen Sliti (Excelsior), Ro‑Zangelo Daal (Feyenoord), Elijah Dijkstra (AZ) and other talents.

Aaron Bouwman, who suffered an injury against PSV, made his debut a month later as a starter alongside Dies Janse.

Dies Janse, former U19 European champion, stated: “Despite a rocky qualification, everything can click at the European Championship.”

He added that the pressure will make the team rise.

The road to the European Championship was turbulent, with a switch of Ayoub Oufkir to Morocco and uncertainties around Ruben van Bommel and Gjivai Zechiël.

Kees Smit announced his withdrawal, after which a compromise with AZ led to the return of a recovered talent.

In the first qualification duels, points were missed five times.

After a recent escape, Young the Oranje experienced a turbulent run‑up to the play‑off against Denmark.

The match video shows both own goals and the crucial counter‑attack.

Sean Steur (Newcastle United) and Don Angelo Konadu (Lommel) stood alongside other former teammates in the squad.

Johan Inan followed the match live on 13 November 2026.