Tijjani Reijnders will be relieved that the Netherlands avoided an upset against Lithuania as they fought hard to clinch a 3-2 victory.
Memphis Depay scored the winner for Ronald Koeman’s side, bagging a brace on the day with Quinten Timber also managing to score his first goal for the Oranje.
However, Tijjani Reijnders, who started as a number 10 for his country had a quiet day.
Reijnders failed to impress against Poland as well and he had the chance to redeem himself on Sunday.
The Manchester City midfielder could not manage to do so, however, leading Dutch fans to criticise him.
Dutch fans blast Tijjani Reijnders after Netherlands 3 Lithuania 2
One Dutch fan called Reijnders out among the three players who let him down against Lithuania, writing: “[Donyell] Malen, Reijnders, [Jerdy] Schouten, so poor.”
A second supporter questioned the former AC Milan star’s athleticism by asking: “Why does Reijnders run as if he’s wearing an extra pair of shoes? Also, Schouten, never in [an] Oranje [shirt] again.”
A third Dutch fan sarcastically praised Reijnders’ ability to go missing after his disappointing display against Lithuania: “I am very impressed with Man City’s star: Reijnders. He’s really good at playing hide and seek. Malen is also very threatening. Schouten perfectly lets his opponent slip through at the first goal. Depay takes all corners and free-kicks, as usual.”
When one fan criticised Schouten’s showing, writing: “Schouten played 2 decent matches for PSV last and hasn’t performed at all since then. From now on, he can carry the bags and drive the bus.”, another slated the 27-year-old, replying: “Then I would leave Reijnders at the bus stop. With his tricks and flicks, totally inefficient.”
A fifth supporter requested Ronald Koeman not to name City’s number four in his starting XI in the future, writing: “Heavily overrated Reijnders, please never field him again.”
Finally, a sixth Dutch fan believes Reijnders does not suit the attacking midfield role against defensive-minded sides like Lithuania: “Reijnders, you don’t get much out of him when you have to play against very defensively oriented teams, at least not in the number 10 position.”
Pep Guardiola hugely admires Reijnders and he may not be too concerned by the supporters’ verdict.
Tijjani Reijnders stats for Netherlands vs Lithuania
However, Reijnders himself will be disappointed that the Dutch fans tore into his performance against Lithuania.
The stats indicate that the midfielder was well and truly underwhelming.
- Touches- 35
- Touches in opposition box- 1
- Chances created- 0
- Shots on target- 0
- Duels won- 1/4 (25%)
Reijnders failed to create a single chance or even register a shot on target, while only touching the ball once in the opposition box.
Winning just four duels in the process, the fans’ frustration is understandable about his performance to some degree.
