Netherlands came from behind to make a winning start in the 2024 European Championship after defeating Poland 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Ronald Koeman went unchanged from the friendly win over Iceland, with Virgil Van Dijk who missed the last Euros named captain as the Poles started record-scorer Robert Lewandowski on the bench due to an injury concern.
Poland were required to early defending when goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny dropped to the near side to keep out a well-worked shot from Coady Gakpo two minutes in.
However, the Poles weathered the storm and hit the front nine minutes later as Adam Buksa outjumped Van Dijk and Denzel Dumfries to meet a corner-kick and head in the bottom-corner.
Captain Van Dijk went looking to restore parity within the space of minutes and attempted a half-volley from a floated corner, but Szczesny palmed.
As the intensity continued, the Oranje were rewarded a minute to the half-hour mark where a deft touch from Nathan Ake granted Gakpo to fire in off Bartosz Salamon.
Holland maintained ascendancy and could've taken the lead on the stroke of halftime through Memphis Depay, but he steered wide after launching from the back-post.
The first substitution were done before the second half by the Poles who brought on Jakub Moder in place of Sebastian Szymanski.
With the first half lively, the second looked to liven up as Xavi Simons made a good forward to run to meet a layoff from Depay but he steered off the side-netting.
Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior should've had the Poles back ahead in the matter of minutes through a perfectly timed strike at the far post, but Bart Verbruggen thwarted him.
The Dutch made a change nine minutes to the end where Depay made way for Wout Weghorst, with the tie in the balance and keenly poised too.
It was inspired as Weghorst made a smart run in-behind and fired through Szczesny after meeting a timeous through pass into the channels.
Netherlands remained ascendancy and started their tournament on a winning note, with the Poles forced back to the drawing board.
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