JAKARTA - Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries rocked Euro 2020 by scoring twice, setting up another two goals with his assist, and earning the Netherlands a penalty, and this has all happened in two games.
After the Netherlands sealed their place in the knockout stages after a convincing 2-0 win over Austria on Friday night, man-of-the-match Dumfries scored a second goal, tightening nerves as Austria scrambled to equalize.
From non-league to Netherlands hero in 8 years...
Denzel Dumfries 🔥🔥🔥#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/mJTtXCsqxl
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 17, 2021
Earlier he was awarded a penalty for a David Alaba foul and Memphis Depay converted the spot-kick to put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute.
The 25-year-old PSV Eindhoven defender who made his professional debut seven years ago but did not drop through the youth academy of any major Dutch club was tireless as the Netherlands reached their first knockout spot in a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup.
🇳🇱 🌟 Denzel Dumfries... again! The flying full-back picks up his second Star of the Match trophy 🙌@Heineken | #EUROSOTM | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/e8KEy1SGlm
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 17, 2021
They failed to qualify for the Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup finals but Dumfries has given the Netherlands hope that this one can be as successful as the 1988 European Cup.
"2 wins, 6 points 1 Dumfries = through," tweeted fellow defender Patrick van Aanholt.
2️⃣ wins 6️⃣ pts 1️⃣ Dumfries = Qualification 😆 ...we move 👊🏽 🇳🇱
— Patrick van Aanholt (@pvanaanholt) June 17, 2021
Dumfries confirmed his team's place like Austria, who is also chasing a second group finish that would see them qualify for the knockout stages, struggled to break through the Dutch defense.
His modern right-back role allowed him the opportunity to find space and create passing options as Holland took control of the game and he also added lightning speed to his side's attack.
That was evident when Dumfries rushed in and met Donyell Malen's pass to end the game in the 67th minute to become only the second Dutch player to score in his first two European Cup games after prolific striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
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This is not the first time that Dumfries has gone against people's expectations after being kicked out of the amateur league when he was 18 years old and only joined the Dutch national team four years ago.
"It's starting to feel like a fairy tale. We're really growing, it's beautiful," Dumfries said as quoted by Reuters.
Having been eyeing the big clubs before this tournament, Dumfries is now seeing his value in the football stock market rise sharply as he leads his country to the sharp end of the tournament.
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