Nathan Ake played a pivotal role as the Netherlands wrapped up their Euro 2024 warm-up matches with a dominant 4-0 victory against Iceland at Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium. The Manchester City defender contributed significantly, including an assist, as Ronald Koeman’s squad showcased their strength ahead of the tournament in Germany.
In their final friendly before the competition begins on Friday, the Dutch team demonstrated their prowess against the Icelandic visitors. Ake nearly opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with a header from Joey Veerman’s cross narrowly missing the target. However, the breakthrough came soon after when Xavi Simons, assisted by Denzel Dumfries, netted the opening goal in the 23rd minute.
Ake and Veerman continued to threaten, and although Ake was again off target, his impact was undeniable. Just after halftime, Ake set up Virgil van Dijk, who doubled the lead with a well-placed header into the bottom corner. Ake’s solid performance earned him a substitution just past the hour mark, making way for Micky van de Ven.
The Dutch extended their lead further with a strike from Donyell Malen in the 79th minute. The final touch came in injury time when Wout Weghorst sealed the victory with another goal, rounding off an impressive display by the hosts. This commanding performance was the perfect way for the Netherlands to conclude their preparations before embarking on their Euro 2024 campaign.
The Netherlands will kick off their Group D matches on Sunday, June 16, against Poland in Hamburg, followed by a significant clash with France on Friday, June 21, in Leipzig. They will complete the group stage against Austria on Tuesday, June 25, in Berlin. With a strong warm-up performance behind them, the Dutch team is poised and ready for the challenges ahead in the tournament.