Sports

Lutsharel Geertruida established himself at PSV

Lutsharel Geertruida has become an undisputed starter at PSV after joining from RB Leipzig, according to former Netherlands international Hedwiges Maduro. PSV coach Peter Bosz has repeatedly praised the defender’s intelligence, physical strength, footballing ability and contribution to the team. Geertruida can play in central defence, at right-back and in midfield, and is expected to start against ADO Den Haag after missing the previous match against sc Heerenveen.

Maduro said Geertruida’s ability to recognize risks, organize teammates and quickly read how opponents press made him an important part of Bosz’s playing style. He also said Geertruida’s leadership could help younger players such as Ryan Flamingo, while PSV’s defensive vulnerability was partly linked to the replacement of much of its midfield and defensive spine. Geertruida scored on his first start for PSV against Ajax.

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Sports

PSV beat SC Heerenveen in Eredivisie return

12 sources

PSV beat SC Heerenveen 2-0 at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven in their first Eredivisie match after the international break. Guus Til scored and Marcus Linday added an own goal. Heerenveen created several chances but did not score. PSV kept their first clean sheet of the season and moved level on 19 points with leaders AZ, who had yet to play.

Sports

Netherlands beat Serbia in Nations League match

11 sources

The Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 in Eindhoven in the Nations League, ending Xavi Hernández’s first international window as national coach unbeaten. Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning goal after coming on as a substitute. The result was the Netherlands’ second win over Serbia in a week and leaves the team on eight points from four matches; Germany and Greece drew 0-0 in the other match. Captain Virgil van Dijk played his 100th international, becoming the 11th Dutch player to reach that mark, and was honoured after the match. Denzel Dumfries made his 80th appearance. Teun Koopmeiners started alongside Van Dijk in central defence, while goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made several saves, according to a single report. Xavi said the team had struggled to impose its possession-based approach but had shown a desire to win.

Sports

RB Leipzig beat PSV in the Champions League

10 sources

PSV lost 1-0 away to RB Leipzig in their second Champions League match. Brajan Gruda scored the only goal in the 75th minute, after a cleared corner. Ivan Perišić had missed a first-half penalty awarded after a VAR review for handball by Ridle Baku. PSV goalkeeper Matěj Kovář made several saves, while Yarek Gasiorowski headed a late chance wide and an Armando Obispo goal was disallowed for offside. The result leaves PSV with one point from two Champions League matches, after its opening 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. Coach Peter Bosz said PSV had played well and felt his side deserved more, while acknowledging that Leipzig had created major chances.

Sports

Extended international break ends amid injuries and criticism

1 source

The extended international break ended after 16 days in which the Netherlands played four international matches with varying results. Several players withdrew because of injuries, including Brian Brobbey, Lutsharel Geertruida, Cody Gakpo, Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven. The injuries also drew attention outside the Netherlands. The format was introduced after FIFA decided in 2023 to merge two international windows into one from this year through 2030. Instead of breaks of up to nine days with two matches, the new format involves four matches in a single break, with the stated aim of reducing travel for players.