The Netherlands' defence was picked apart by Italy during the UEFA Nations League third-place match as the current European champions Italy secured an easy 3-1 on Sunday, June 18. Goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Fratessi and Federico Chiesa sealed the win for the Azzurri while Steven Bergwijn pulled one back for the Dutchmen.
Di Marco took just six minutes to give his team the lead with a classy finish. It was the wing-back who started the move with an initial cross into the box towards Fratessi. The young Sassuolo midfielder played the ball back into the middle. Mateo Retegui tried to go for a spectacular overhead kick but his shot was miscued.
But then Giacomo Raspadori deftly touched the ball to Dimarco, whose hit with the outside of his right boot took the ball past goalkeeper Justin Bijlow into the far side of the net.
While the Netherlands could not do much for the first goal, they hit themselves on the foot with the second goal.
A mishit from Leed United Wilfried Gnonto was not dealt with properly by the Dutchmen. Dimarco found space down the left flank and he pulled the ball back to Raspadori on the edge of the box. Dutch midfielder Mats Wieffer won the ball off the Inter Milan defender, but it fell to Gnonto. His failed attempt then went to Frattesi, who smashed the ball past Bijlow.
Bergwijn reduced the deficit to give the Netherlands a chance in the second half. The substitute was found by Cody Gakpo from the left flank to the far side of the box. The Ajax forward beat goalscorer Dimarco before finding the net for the Dutchmen.
But it was a little too late for the Dutch. Italy restored the two-goal advantage after Dimarco win the ball from Denzel Dumfries as Italy countered with the ball. Dimarco found Frattesi, who slotted it to Chiesa on the left. The Juventus forward took on Virgil Van Dijk before hitting his shot across goal and into the far bottom corner.
The Azzurri thought the game was in the bag but it was not to be. Former Liverpool midfielder Giorgino Wijnaldum gave the opponents a late scare after Bergwijn fought his way down the right before Joey Veerman found Wijnaldum, who fired the ball over Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's outstretched arm and into the roof of the net.
But the goal was a little too late as Italy sealed the third spot ahead of their opponents.
