Holland keeper Stekelenburg almost scores own goal in horror gaffe – then is at fault for Czech’s opener miments later
HOLLAND goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg had a shocking five-minute spell as the Oranje crashed out of Euro 2020.
First the shot-stopper almost spilled a cross into his own net when he should have caught the ball easily.
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The just moments later he was caught in no man’s land as the Czechs grabbed the all-important opening goal to sink 10-man Holland.
Stekelenburg was all at sea for the set-piece, with Tomas Kalas’ back post header turned in by Tomas Holes.
Then Stekelenburg, 38, was left flat footed for Czech Republic’s second goal 12 minutes later.
Good work from Holes again presented Patrik Schick with a great chance, and he scored his fourth goal of the tournament by rolling the ball into the bottom corner.
The Czechs held on for a 2-0 win to set up a quarter-final clash against Denmark on Saturday and send the Dutch packing.
It was the first Czech goal that killed off Holland, as it came not long after Juventus star Matthijs De Ligt was sent off.
The centre-back initially received a yellow card for handball but referee Sergei Karasev consulted the VAR screen and changed his punishment to a red as De Ligt had denied a goalscoring opportunity.
And Stekelenburg, who was not popular amongst his team-mates after conceding, also drew criticism from fans on social media.
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In response to the opening goal, journalist Grant Wahl said: “Never should have been a corner, Stekelenburg.”
Stekelenburg has started just 15 league games since 2016 and one football fan suggested his performance was proof of that.
He tweeted: “Stekelenburg looking like a goalkeeper who’s averaged fewer than 10 league games a season for the past 8 years.”
Meanwhile, a Norwich fan pointed out the Dutch have a better option in Tim Krul, and even posted a video to prove his point.
He argued: “Stekelenburg making the error from a corner, Tim Krul would never.”
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