Internationals | Micky stars as Netherlands all-but secure World Cup spot
Fri 14 November 2025, 23:10|
Tottenham Hotspur
Micky van de Ven’s Netherlands have all-but qualified for next summer’s World Cup after picking up a valuable point in a 1-1 draw with Poland in Warsaw on Friday evening.
Our in-form defender started at left-back in the Group G clash and played the full match, while Xavi Simons remained an unused substitute in a game in which the Dutch battled back to draw thanks to Memphis Depay’s 47th-minute equaliser after Jakub Kaminski had put Poland ahead just before half-time.
It was Micky’s 17th cap for his country.
The point means the Netherlands will book their World Cup spot if they draw at home to Lithuania on Monday. Should they lose and Poland beat Malta, it would still need a 13-goal swing to deny the Dutch their place!
Elsewhere on Friday, Micky’s Spurs centre-back partner Cristian Romero was part of Argentina’s historic friendly against Angola, which ended 2-0 to Lionel Scaloni’s side.
The game, staged in Luanda, was played to celebrate the African nation’s 50th anniversary of its independence from Portugal and a goal in each half from Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi gave Argentina victory, with our club captain ‘Cuti’ playing the whole match.
Meanwhile, Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert both featured for the full 90 minutes as France Under-21s drew 1-1 with Switzerland in a European Under-21 Championship qualifier. Mathys skippered the side in Lausanne but saw his team fall behind to an Alessandro Vogt goal in the 38th minute before Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi levelled it up after 66 minutes. Wilson struck the woodwork just two minutes later but it ended all square.
Ashley Phillips and Aaron Maguire both remained on the bench for England and the Republic of Ireland respectively, as their Under-21 sides faced off in Euro Under-21 qualifying. England won the game at St Andrew’s 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Divin Mubama and Tyrique George.
