Netherlands beat Lithuania 4-0, securing their place in the 2026 World Cup thanks to an unbeaten record.
Netherlands dominate at Johan Cruijff ArenA: Reijnders opens the scoring, Gakpo scores a penalty after VAR, then explodes with 3 goals in the 58th-62nd minute; xG 3.0-0.76; maintaining their lead in Group G.
In just six minutes of explosive play in the second half, the Netherlands sealed the match against Lithuania with a 4-0 victory, ending the qualifying round at the top of Group G, securing a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals and an unbeaten run. At the Johan Cruijff ArenA, the home team maintained complete control and kept a clean sheet.
The decisive 6-minute explosion
The turning point came after a VAR situation. In the 55th minute, the ball hit Artemijus Tutyskinas's hand in the penalty area. After checking VAR, the referee awarded the Netherlands a penalty, and Cody Gakpo increased the score to 2-0 in the 58th minute.
Two minutes later, Gakpo crossed the ball for Xavi Simons to control neatly inside the penalty area and fire a shot into the top corner of the net in the 60th minute. Just two minutes later, in the 62nd minute, from a quick counter-attack following a Lithuanian corner kick, Tijjani Reijnders flicked the ball to Donyell Malen, who sprinted past goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas to seal a 4-0 victory.
Key development: early control, late termination
The Netherlands started the match with the initiative and constant pressure. In the 16th minute, Frenkie de Jong made a clever through pass, and Reijnders broke free to fire a diagonal shot into the net, opening the scoring. Virgil van Dijk nearly doubled the lead after a corner kick, but Gertmonas made a timely save.
Before halftime, Reijnders threatened again with a skillful outside-of-the-foot shot that hit the post. The first half ended 1-0, reflecting a one-sided game despite the narrow lead.
After the break, the home team accelerated perfectly. VAR awarded a penalty to Gakpo, followed by a sharp moment from Simons and a textbook counter-attack finished by Malen. From the 58th to the 62nd minute, the Netherlands scored three goals in quick succession, turning the remaining minutes into a period of controlling the tempo and preserving their advantage.
Tactical angles: through passes and transitions.
The opening goal illustrated the Netherlands' central idea: controlling the midfield with de Jong as the signal hub, breaking down the defensive block with a through ball for Reijnders to move straight into the space. When Lithuania pushed high in set pieces, the home side switched quickly, utilizing Malen's speed to punish the space behind them. Layers of wing play and crosses were executed neatly through Gakpo and Simons in the third goal.
Towards the end of the match, the Netherlands deliberately slowed down the pace but still maintained a well-structured defensive transition, thereby keeping a clean sheet.
Selective statistics
- xG: Netherlands 3.0 – Lithuania 0.76
- Decisive scoring streak: 3 goals in 5 minutes of play (58-62)
- The Netherlands finished the qualifying round undefeated and at the top of Group G.
| Minute | Player | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 16' | Tijjani Reijnders | Frenkie de Jong's through-pass |
| 58' | Cody Gakpo | Penalty after VAR |
| 60' | Xavi Simons | Gakpo's architecture |
| 62' | Donyell Malen | Quick counter-attack, Reijnders provides the assist. |
Impact on the 2026 World Cup
The 4-0 victory officially secured the Netherlands' direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals, as winners of Group G. A convincing performance, from controlling the game to scoring at crucial moments, laid a positive foundation for the upcoming summer.
Final score:Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania
