It was all going so well. For a while there, it looked like England were going to advance to the Nations League final. Luckily, we won't have to suffer through that.
An uncharacteristically rash challenge from Matthijs de Ligt handed Gareth Southgate's side a penalty in the opening half, with Marcus Rashford picking himself up from the deck to convert the spot kick. The Netherlands had the lion's share of possession, but you couldn't really argue that England didn't deserve their half time lead.
The Dutch would turn the screw in the second half, however. De Ligt would atone for his mistake in the 15 minutes from full time, rising highest to power home this header.
DE LIGT! 🍊🍊🍊
Brilliant header from the 19-year-old!#NEDENG #NationsLeague #VMSport pic.twitter.com/ndC4gi55RC— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 6, 2019
You would have expected Ronald Koeman's side to push for the winner from here, but it looked like there was to be another twist to the tale.
Jesse Lingard, and just about everybody else, thought he had restored England's lead, only to have his strike ruled out for offside on the tightest of margins. When we say the tightest, we really mean it.
Just how tight it was... pic.twitter.com/O9J00OzL3c
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 6, 2019
To extra time we went, and it provided the perfect opportunity for John Stones to make an absolute tit of himself.
The Manchester City defender has become known for producing some absolute howlers at the back over the years, although they seem to have subsided in recent times. Of course that is mostly down to Pep Guardiola letting him nowhere near a football pitch, but still.
Stones would receive a pass from Harry Maguire, going on to take around 162 touches for no apparent reason before losing the ball to Memphis Depay. While he would miss the chance, Quincy Promes was on hand to deflect the ball home off of Kyle Walker.
🙉🙊🙈
John Stones. What are you doing!?#NED absolutely gifted a second goal!
Memphis still almost managed to mess it up but Promes pounced!#NEDENG #NationsLeague #VMSport pic.twitter.com/CkvAt8XGDS— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 6, 2019
The Netherlands would go on to make sure of their victory when Quincy Promes scored another one in the second period of extra time.
It typical English fashion, it was another piece of horrific defending. This time Ross Barkley was the culprit, playing in Memphis Depay with a ill-judged back pass.
John Stones. ✅
Ross Barkley. ✅
Another defensive error gives #NED a 3rd goal and Quincy Promes can definitely call this his own!#NEDENG #NationsLeague #VMSport pic.twitter.com/Qwc0mAnBxO— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 6, 2019
You hate to see it. The Dutch will now face host nation Portugal in Sunday's UEFA Nations League howler, with the hosts unlikely to hand them two goals on a golden platter.
