What a night it was for the Netherlands! The Dutch national team had a blast on Monday night, completely dominating Malta with an 8-0 win in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. This wasn’t just any match—it was full of goals, records, emotions, and even a little bit of history.
A Trip Back in Time
Let’s start with something cool: this was the first time the Netherlands played a match in Groningen since 1983! That was over 40 years ago! Back then, the Dutch beat Iceland 3-0, and one of the players on the field that day was Ronald Koeman—now the head coach of the team. Talk about coming full circle! Groningen is also where Koeman grew up and started his football career, so this return must’ve felt super special.
Another hometown hero on the field? Virgil van Dijk, the captain. He also began his football journey in Groningen. And just like Koeman, he made sure his home crowd got something to cheer about.
Memphis Depay: Chasing History
Now, let’s talk about the star of the night: Memphis Depay. Going into this match, he had 48 goals for the Dutch national team—just two behind the legendary Robin van Persie, who holds the record with 50. And guess what? Memphis wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip.
Only 9 minutes into the match, the Dutch were awarded a penalty after Xavi Simons was fouled in the box. The referee checked with VAR, and finally, the decision stood. Memphis stepped up with confidence and slotted the ball into the net. That was goal number 49—just one away from history!
Just 7 minutes later, the big moment arrived. After a neat pass by Denzel Dumfries and a clever dummy from Xavi Simons, Memphis blasted the ball into the goal with style. Goal number 50! He had tied Van Persie’s all-time Dutch record! What a way to do it—at home, with a packed stadium, and in a crucial World Cup qualifier.
More Goals, More Fun
The Dutch team didn’t stop there. In the 21st minute, it was time for captain Virgil van Dijk to shine. He picked up a loose ball in the box and smashed it into the back of the net to make it 3-0. That goal meant even more because, like we said earlier, Groningen is where he first made a name for himself.
The fourth goal took a little longer. It came in the 61st minute, and it was a beauty. Memphis Depay, already with two goals and an assist, sent a perfect long ball to Xavi Simons, who calmly finished to make it 4-0. It was the kind of teamwork you just love to see.
Super Sub: Donyell Malen
After that, Memphis left the pitch to a loud cheer, and in came Donyell Malen from Aston Villa. What did he do? Score with his very first touch! Just two minutes after coming on, he tapped in a cross from Micky van de Ven for goal number five.
And Malen wasn’t done. Just a few minutes later, he made a brilliant run, skipped past defenders, and passed to Noa Lang, who scored goal number six. Then, in the 82nd minute, Malen scored again, this time doing it all by himself with a lovely dribble and sharp finish into the bottom corner.
But the Dutch weren’t finished yet. In the second minute of added time, Micky van de Ven got his name on the scoresheet too, scoring the eighth and final goal of the night with a classy half-volley.
Total Domination: Over 2.5 Goals? More Like Over 7.5!
With a final score of 8-0, this match was an easy Over 2.5 goals pick! In fact, it was the Netherlands’ biggest win since they beat San Marino 11-0 in 2012. So if you had a feeling there would be lots of goals, you were definitely right.
For fans who like stats, here’s a fun one: this was the 10th time the Netherlands played against Malta, and they’ve won every single match. That’s right—head-to-head, it’s 10-0 for Oranje. And get this: Malta has never even scored a goal against them in those ten meetings. So definitely no BTTS (Both Teams To Score) in this rivalry!
What’s Next for Oranje?
With this win, the Netherlands now sit just one point behind Finland in their qualifying group. But here’s the catch—Finland has already played two more matches, so the Dutch are in a really strong position going into the next stage.
The next two matches for the Netherlands are in September, and they’ll be up against Poland and Lithuania. If they keep playing like this, it’s hard to see anyone stopping them.
This was more than just a football match. It was a celebration of history, talent, and hometown pride. Fans got to see a record-tying performance from Memphis Depay, a homecoming for Ronald Koeman and Virgil van Dijk, and a full-on goal fest that no one in Groningen will forget anytime soon.
The Netherlands showed once again that they’re a force to be reckoned with in world football. Whether it’s breaking records, scoring amazing goals, or simply having fun on the field, Oranje is looking more dangerous than ever.
And who knows? Maybe the next match will bring even more history.
