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The disappointment is immense within the Netherlands U21 team after the 2-1 defeat against England in the semi-finals of the European Championship in Slovakia. Striker Noah Ohio found it incomprehensible how his team conceded a goal just before the final whistle on Wednesday.
Netherlands U21 fell behind against England after halftime, but fought back with a fine goal from Ohio. With only a few minutes remaining, coach Michael Reiziger’s team was heading for extra time, but England struck again.
Harvey Elliott, who also scored the 1-0, was allowed to run through and was able to shoot freely. “If you give a guy that much space, it’s always going to be a goal. This is definitely going to hurt,” Ohio lamented after the match in conversation with Ziggo Sport.
For Ohio, it seemed as if the English striker “was simply allowed to walk to the goal”. “He could have had a coffee before he was able to shoot the ball in,” Ohio said. “If he shoots the ball in from 40 meters, okay. But this can’t happen. Unfortunately, it’s too late.”
Captain Jorrel Hato also saw that Elliott was hardly challenged by the Dutch defenders. “It wasn’t defended well at all. It was half-hearted defending. This is really bad from us. It’s such a waste how we give the goals away,” Hato said.
Ohio sees the goalkeeper out of position and scores from long range for Netherlands U21
‘I’d rather not have scored and won’
Due to the late defeat, Ohio couldn’t enjoy his goal. The striker had been criticised this tournament for wasting many chances. After the second group match, he lost his place in the starting lineup. “But I’d rather win than score and not win. This would have been something for life.”
For Ohio’s goal, the English goalkeeper came very far out of his goal, after which the striker curled the ball into the goal from about thirty meters. “It wasn’t a coincidence. Nowadays, all goalkeepers think they are Manuel Neuer.”
Ohio is proud of the way Netherlands U21 has fought its way through the tournament. Reiziger’s team started the European Championship with a disappointing draw against Finland and a defeat against Denmark, but then a victory followed against Ukraine.
In the quarter-finals, Netherlands U21 pulled off a surprise against Portugal (0-1), winning with ten men after an early red card for Ruben van Bommel.
“A lot has happened this tournament,” Ohio said. “Red cards, goals against. Yet we have come together. We are among the best four in Europe. We can be proud of that. But of course, this defeat is going to hurt.”