Koeman rueful ahead of Germany showdown

Saka to miss Nations League match in Finland today due to leg injury

LONDON:

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman will not call up a replacement for suspended captain Virgil van Dijk ahead of a vital trip to Germany on Monday, but was left perplexed by the defender's sending off in the 1-1 Nations League draw with Hungary.

Van Dijk received two yellow cards in three minutes late in the second half, the first for dissent and the second a foul which was a straightforward booking.

That first card has left Koeman puzzled as Van Dijk protested after Donyell Malen was brought down as he surged towards goal with the Dutch trailing their hosts 1-0.

"That moment was frustrating," Koeman told the NOS. "I don't understand it. I think we agreed that a captain can protest to a referee.

"That foul (on Malen) was good for a red card. There was no intention at all to play the ball. That Virgil then takes that second card is not convenient. He knows that himself."

Koeman confirmed he will not add to his squad for the trip to Germany, who head Nations League Group A3 with seven points from three matches, two more points than the Netherlands. It makes it a vital fixture in which the Dutch could rise to the top of the pool, or conversely be cut five points adrift with two games to play.

Koeman was left with a "reasonable feeling" after the draw in Budapest in which his side trailed to a first-half goal from Roland Sallai, but equalised late on through Denzel Dumfries, a goal that came after Van Dijk's red card.

"We didn't surrender, we went to play one-on-one and made the equaliser. Then they (Hungary) created some dangerous situations, but we defended well. That way you leave with a reasonable feeling."

Saka out of England squad

England winger Bukayo Saka has returned to Arsenal for further assessment of a leg injury and will miss Sunday's Nations League match in Finland, the England team said on Saturday.

Saka was forced off in the 51st minute of England's 2-1 loss to Greece at Wembley on Thursday.

England interim manager Lee Carsley had said that Saka suffered a leg injury.

A 22-man squad will fly to Helsinki ahead of Sunday's Nations League fixture as Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has withdrawn due to personal reasons, the team statement added.

England are in second place in the GroupB2 standings, three points behind Greece after three games.

Saka's injury is a blow for Arsenal with their captain Martin Odegaard also sidelined. Mikel Arteta's side play Bournemouth away in the Premier League next Saturday.

Chory double leads Czechs to 2-0 win

Tomas Chory scored in each half to lead the Czech Republic to a 2-0 win over visitors Albania in the Nations League on Friday, as the home side dominated after taking the lead inside three minutes.

Slavia Prague striker Chory put the Czechs ahead when he latched onto a pass from Vaclav Cerny and gave the Albanian keeper no chance with a precise finish.

The Czechs continued to push forward while limiting chances for Albania and Chory doubled the lead in the 63rd minute when he found himself alone in the penalty area and headed home a cross from West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal.

The win puts the Czechs level on six points with Georgia at the top of Group B1 with Ukraine and Albania both on three points. The Czechs face Ukraine on Monday while Georgia host Albania.

Germany beats Bosnia 2-1

Germany forward Deniz Undav scored two first-half goals in six minutes to guide them to a 2-1 victory over Bosnia on Friday and keep them in top spot in their Nations League group.

The Germans, missing several players through injury, were in control from the start but apart from a Pascal Gross shot off target had no clear chances against the disciplined hosts until Florian Wirtz set up Undav in the box to give them the lead on the half-hour mark. REUTERS