Jong the Oranje escapes in the final minutes, five lessons play‑offs

With a last‑minute scramble, Jong the Oranje managed to qualify for the play‑offs on Tuesday evening at De Vijverberg, after a nerve‑wracking 1‑1 draw against Norway that assistant coach Saïd Bakkati reported via his earpiece in the final ten minutes, after which Michael Reiziger raised two fingers.

Escapade and first lessons

Michael Reiziger's squad is far from there yet, but the relief after the escape is huge. Journalist Lentin Goodijk noted that “We have taken giant steps.” Not that there is extreme exuberance in the celebration; the staff and players are mainly enormously relieved. Everyone realises that missing out on the European Championship with this generation would have been a massive embarrassment.

Growth, players and the road to the play‑offs

Jong the Oranje played a very dominant qualification campaign with an extraordinary amount of possession around the opponent’s penalty area. In all eight matches the team created far better chances than the opponent, but only three wins were recorded. Statistically it was a small miracle, because virtually all the conditions for winning were present, yet it often failed due to a lack of maturity and drive. In the final ten minutes of the crucial match assistant coach Saïd Bakkati received a relieving message via his earpiece, after which Michael Reiziger raised two fingers to confirm the point.

On Tuesday evening the 4‑0 victory over Bosnia‑Herzegovina produced 40 attempts on goal, which ultimately was enough to break the resistance. Twice Jong the Oranje cut themselves in the final minute, just like Israel in the same period. Norway, which was already certain of qualification, beat Israel and thus finished second in the group. Sean Steur concluded: “We were by far the best team in this group.”

Reiziger emphasised that the eleven has grown enormously compared to previous international periods, both in energy and maturity. He praised Ayoub Oufkir, who last year still played for Jong Sparta and is now one of the better players. Dies Janse earned his place alongside former FC Groningen player Thijmen Blokzijl, and together they kept two clean sheets. Janse said: “I can read and write with Thijmen, which of course helps, and we have now spent more than two weeks together, which has greatly contributed to the connections.”

The draw for the play‑offs takes place on Friday, with possible opponents Greece, Turkey, Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, Denmark or Ireland. These duels will be played in November, and Reiziger can then count on potential reinforcements that are on the way. The focus now is on preparation and maintaining the recently gained energy.