Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman was in no temper to reply questions on Joshua Zirkzee’s uninspiring efficiency after his facet’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Manchester United ahead Zirkzee was chosen within the No.10 position in help of Brian Brobbey as Koeman fielded a completely new-look beginning XI at Bosnia’s Bilino Polje Stadium.
Although nothing was using on the result of the Nations League contest, with Germany flying excessive on the high of Group A3, the Dutch have been eager to safe most factors after what has been a troublesome yr for the nationwide group.
The night time received off to the proper begin for the guests as Ajax striker Brobbey headed dwelling a pinpoint cross from Noa Lang to interrupt the impasse halfway by means of the primary half.
However hosts Bosnia rallied within the second half and levelled by means of Ermedin Demirovic, who reacted nicely on the rebound after Edin Dzeko’s preliminary strike was denied by Mark Flekken.
Whereas the Netherlands’ pursuit of a winner proved unsuccessful, Koeman’s males had already secured their spot within the quarter-finals of the competitors with a complete 4-0 victory over Hungary on the weekend.
Bosnia’s destiny had additionally been secured, with a humbling 7-0 defeat by the hands of Germany confirming their relegation from the highest tier of the Nations League on Saturday.
Zirkzee has endured a troublesome begin to his Manchester United profession following a big-money switch transfer from Bologna in the summertime and the attacker’s struggles continued this night.
With 5 minutes remaining of the primary half, Zirkzee squandered a gilt-edged alternative to double the Netherlands’ benefit and the 23-year-old reduce a annoyed determine for essentially the most half in Zenica.
Within the 77th minute, Koeman determined to make a change and introduced off a tiring Zirkzee, with Ajax’s Wout Weghorst – previously of United – approaching in his place in assault.
‘My ideas on Zirkzee’s efficiency? I’m not going to speak about particular person participant performances,’ Koeman advised reporters at his post-match press convention when requested for his ideas on the ahead’s show.
The Netherlands supervisor appeared accountable the pitch for his gamers repeatedly dropping their footing throughout the 90 minutes.
‘The pitch was very tough to play on, many gamers slipped,’ he added.
‘However regardless of this, we managed the sport fairly nicely till the final half an hour.’
There was some hypothesis that Zirkzee could possibly be set for a short lived change away from United on the again of his underwhelming begin at Outdated Trafford, with Juventus reportedly exploring a January mortgage transfer.
Zirkzee loved a dream Premier League debut following his £36.5million arrival from Bologna, scoring a dramatic late winner at dwelling to Fulham again in August.
However the targets have dried up for the out-of-sorts Dutchman, who has failed to seek out the web in any of his final 16 appearances which have adopted each domestically and in Europe.
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