Memel, Lithuania – Memphis Depay scored the decisive goal against Lithuania, securing a narrow 3-2 victory for the Netherlands and preserving their position in Euro 2025 qualifying. Despite the win, the Dutch national team’s performance drew criticism, with many observers suggesting Lithuania emerged as the moral victor.
The Netherlands appeared poised for a comfortable evening after building a two-goal lead, but Lithuania mounted a spirited comeback, threatening to snatch a historic draw. Depay’s goal, making him the all-time leading scorer for the Netherlands, proved crucial in averting a potential upset. Manager Ronald Koeman responded to lithuania’s late pressure by deploying an additional defender, Matthijs de Ligt, to solidify the backline.
Lithuania’s resilience throughout the match left a lasting impression, despite the final result. The Dutch secured three points, but their performance raised concerns about consistency and dominance within the qualifying group. The victory keeps the Netherlands firmly in contention for a spot in the Euro 2025 tournament, but the team will need to demonstrate improved form in upcoming fixtures.
