Ronald Koeman has blamed VAR for the Netherlands’s semi-final 2-1 defeat to England following a controversial first-half penalty.
Xavi Simons had given the Dutch a seventh-minute lead in the second semi-finals of Euro 2024.
However, the game turned on the awarding of a penalty in the 18th minute, though, when the VAR cited a challenge by Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries on Kane. Referee Felix Zwayer reviewed the incident and awarded a spot kick.
Kane went on to convert the spot kick before substitute Ollie Watkins netted the winner in the 91st to send England to their second Euro final.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Koeman refused to accept the penalty decision against his team.
“This is not a penalty,” Koeman said (via ESPN). “His only intention was to block a shot. Harry Kane then shoots and their feet collide.
“Football is getting destroyed by these type of decisions by VAR. This penalty would not have been given in England.
“What should you do as a defender? I thought the referee whistled for a lot of silly things, but that’s not why we lose.”
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The Dutch reached the semifinals after beating Romania and Turkey in the knockout stages following a third-place group stage finish.
But having made it to the last four despite their poor group campaign, Koeman said there was enough evidence to be confident about the future.
“There is a lot of future in this team,” he said. “In general, I am very proud. I like how they gave something in every game. We started well, but England got on top in midfield and we had to change things.
“I thought we then were the better team, but they scored a killer goal in the 91st minute and there is no way to respond to that.”
England go into Sunday’s final as underdogs against Spain, but former Barcelona coach Koeman believes Southgate’s team have the players to win.
“England showed good football today. Spain play more offensively and are a little better defensively, but England is in the final so they can win the Euros. Players like Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are world class and they can put you in trouble.”
4 Comments
Coach, it was a clear penalty. The fact that your defender clevely went for Harry Kane’s leg instead of the ball,can only be ignored if there was no VAR.
But a critical review of the VAR clearly expose your defender rough tackle.
Stop judging football on slow motion.so a defender wouldn’t try to stop a shot? It was a stupid decision NEVER a PK the VAR decisions has been socking.
@Tokz, it was not a matter of just a slow motion expose or simply trying to stop a shot, it was a clear foul and a clear Penalty offence. For any tackle in the box, you have to make sure you get the ball before making such a tackle otherwise it is regarded as a foul especially when deemed dangerous to the attacking player.
The rule in football is “Play the ball and not the leg”. This is instituted mainly to avoid or minimise serious career damaging injury to players
I will implore you to please compare this tackle on Kane to that against Osimhen at AFCON against Cote D’Voire and you will see that VAR was so much on point here. The importance of the slow motion is simply that it shows more clarity on the impact which a naked eye may miss in real time.
You will agree with me however that England thoroughly deserved their win in Yesterday’s match and a Final between Spain vs England is more mouth watering compared to Netherland
Viva “3 Lions” Viva………….Let’s support England for the Crown guys, we have 2 Nigerians in the team who are pivotal to their performance
Coach Koeman is 100 % correct. That was never a penalty. Very disputable decision by VAR. This VAR crap is seriously ruining football (soccer) as they seem to make many questionable decisions. Disgusting.