The Netherlands delivered a footballing masterclass on home soil as they demolished Malta 8-0 In their fourth match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group G, with six different players finding the net, the “Oranje” turned the game into a statement performance, both in style and substance.
Depay Joins the History Books
The night belonged to Memphis Depay, who scored twice in the 8th and 16th minutes to match Robin van Persie’s all-time national team record of 50 goals. The Dutch Football Association celebrated the moment with a heartfelt tribute on social media, calling it “Two icons, one record.”
Though the achievement was monumental, the 31-year-old forward, now playing for Corinthians in Brazil, was quick to shift the focus back to team ambitions.
“I’m proud to reach this milestone and to stand alongside someone like Van Persie,” said Depay post-match. “But this is just a step. Our real goal is to go far and maybe win the World Cup next year. This team has what it takes to surprise people.”
Total Domination in Amsterdam
The Dutch were in control from the first whistle, enjoying 65% possession and launching 27 shots to Malta’s 5. They recorded 9 shots on target and won 6 corners, while Malta failed to register any significant threat.
In addition to Depay’s brace, Donyell Malen also struck twice. Virgil van Dijk, Xavi Simons, Noa Lang, and Micky van de Ven each added a goal to complete the 8-0 Rout, a scoreline that underlined just how ruthless Ronald Koeman’s side can be when they’re in top gear.
Koeman was full of praise for his team, saying, “This is the kind of football I expect from the Netherlands. Aggressive, creative, and confident. It’s what we’ve been working toward.”
Finland Surprise as Group G Leaders
Despite the emphatic victory, the Netherlands sit second in Group G with two wins from two matches (6 points). The surprise group leaders are Finland, who have seven points after a 2-1 victory over Poland, a game in which the Poles were notably missing their star striker, Robert Lewandowski.
Poland remains third with two wins and one loss, while Lithuania and Malta trail behind with two and zero points, respectively.
Austria Cruises Past San Marino
In Group H, 36-year-old Inter Milan forward Marko Arnautović scored a brace as Austria thumped bottom-ranked San Marino 4-0. Austria now sits second in the group with six points, just behind perfect-start Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Romania, meanwhile, claimed a 2-0 win over Cyprus to reach six points, leaving Cyprus and San Marino at the lower end of the standings.
Serbia Earn First Win in Group K
Serbia finally got off the mark in Group K with a 3-0 win over Andorra. The victory gives them four points from two games, keeping their qualification hopes alive. England leads the group with a perfect nine points from three matches, followed by Albania and Latvia. Andorra remain without a point.
The Netherlands may not top the group just yet, but their performance was a loud reminder of their pedigree. With stars like Depay in historic form and Koeman’s vision starting to take shape, the “Oranje” look ready to reclaim their place among football’s elite, with their eyes firmly set on World Cup glory.
