Amsterdam (AFP)
New Netherlands coach Frank de Boer had a difficult start at the helm of the Oranje, conceding a logical 1-0 loss to Mexico on Wednesday in Amsterdam.
The Dutch lost after a penalty converted to the hour mark by Jimenez.
It was De Boer's first match at the helm of the Dutch team following his appointment on September 23 after Ronald Koeman left FC Barcelona.
This match was the occasion for De Boer to carry out some tests and to offer a first cape to the young left-back of AZ Alkmaar Owen Wijndal (20) and to his club-mate, defensive midfielder Teun Koomeiners.
For the rest, nothing but classic in the Dutch 4-3-3, with the stars Van Dijck, De Vrij, Van de Beek, Wijnaldum or even Depay in an empty Johan-Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
The comparison with the successes of Koeman (especially against France, England and Germany) did not really convince early in the game with mostly Mexican opportunities by Jesus Gallardo and Raul Jimenez in the first ten minutes.
"Frank de Boer was a good choice, probably the best to succeed me," his predecessor Ronald Koeman, now at the head of FC Barcelona, told NOS television.
But the new manager, who said he was not a Koeman 2.0 version, did not have an easy start to the game.
Regardless: in the eyes of the new coach, the next two matches are "much more important": Bosnia (Sunday) then Italy (next Wednesday) as part of the League of Nations which seems to be very close to the heart of the former Ajax defender.
Despite a very restless Memphis Depays, the first period was largely dominated by the Mexicans who scored from the penalty spot on the hour mark by Raul Jimenez, following a foul by the neophyte Wijndal.
A first match already to forget for the new coach.
© 2020 AFP