Netherlands 2-0 Norway: Player ratings as Dutch labour to World Cup qualification

The Netherlands laboured to a 1-0 win over Norway to seal World Cup qualification in Rotterdam on Tuesday night.

The match was played behind closed doors with coronavirus cases once again on the rise in the Netherlands, so the Oranje could not draw upon the support of a raucous home crowd.

Indeed the empty stadium appeared to have an effect on the home players. A pedestrian first half was punctuated by two identical close-range headed opportunities which were wasted by Memphis Depay, either side of Arnaut Danjuma flashing a shot wide when he should have hit the target.

The second half followed a similar pattern until Tottenham's Steven Bergwijn finally broke the deadlock with six minutes remaining, firing the ball into the roof of the net from Danjuma's pass.

Bergwijn then turned provider in added time, running from his own half after the Dutch broke from a Norway corner and laying the ball on a plate for Depay to add an undeserved sheen to the scoreline.

Here's how the players rated as they qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar...

NETHERLANDS PLAYER RATINGS

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Jasper Cillessen (GK) - 6/10 - Barely had anything to do as the Netherlands dominated possession.

Denzel Dumfries (RB) - 6/10 - Didn't bomb forward like he does from wing-back for his club Inter. Not really the same player as a result.

Matthijs de Ligt (CB) - 7/10 - Swept up well and was very composed throughout. Needlessly booked, though.

Virgil van Dijk (CB) - 7/10 - So good at using his body to ease opponents off the ball almost effortlessly. Largely untested in any serious way.

Daley Blind (LB) - 7/10 - Did manage to get involved in the Dutch attacks down the left. Used the ball well with some good, incisive passing. Heavily involved in the build-up to the winner.

2. Midfielders

Georginio Wijnaldum (CM) - 6/10 - Nowhere near influential enough in the first half. Although he saw more of the ball, that didn't really change after the break.

Frenkie de Jong (CM) - 7/10 - Lovely balletic turn in the first period. Neat and tidy and always looked to pass through the lines.

Davy Klaassen (CM) - 6/10 - Good ball into Danjuma, but the winger couldn't finish. In the wars as he did the dirty work. Subbed.

3. Forwards

Steven Bergwijn (RW) - 8/10 - Good early burst but couldn't pick anyone out with his cross. Popped up to blast home the winner late on, firing into the roof of the net. Brilliant run and unselfish assist for Depay to wrap it up.

Memphis Depay (CF) - 7/10 - Spurned two close-range headed chances in the first half. One half-chance after the break, but faded somewhat. Gifted a tap-in after a long run from Bergwijn.

Arnaut Danjuma (LW) - 7/10 - Flashed a shot wide in the first half when he should have hit the target. Simple assist for Bergwijn.

4. Substitutes

Marten de Roon (CM) - 6/10

Nathan Ake (CB) - N/A