The two countries entered the match with second place in Group B of the European Championship Qualifying strongly in mind. At the game’s conclusion on Thursday, France was still comfortably ahead of the Netherlands with 15 points despite having played two more games.
The Netherlands scored all three of their goals in the first half—three total—to put the game beyond any reasonable question. Marten de Roon scored the game’s first goal during this 22-minute span.
After the midfielder’s initial goal, Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo scored before former Manchester United cult hero Wout Weghorst put Greece’s chances of winning the game to rest.
However, Nathan Ake of Manchester City, who had been playing on the left in a back-three for the Netherlands with Virgil van Dijk and Lutsharel Geertruida at center-back, suffered a serious injury during the halftime break.
![Manchester City's Nightmare: First-Team Star Suffers Major Injury in European Qualifier 2 Nathan Aké](https://i0.wp.com/i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/article19265121.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200c/0_Nathan-Ake.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1)
According to information provided by Dutch broadcaster NOS, Nathan Aké’s injury prevented him from returning for the game’s second half as scheduled. His hamstring was ‘likely’ to have been the issue, according to the article at the time.
There have been no more developments, but if Ake had suffered a muscular injury in the first half, it is assumed that he will return to Manchester City right away for more evaluation by the team’s medical experts.
Following the completion of the international break, City will play their first Premier League match at the London Stadium against West Ham United in an effort to keep their perfect record this season.
In September, the UEFA Champions League will also be back, with holders City hosting Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad Stadium in the first match of the group stage. At St. James’ Park, a Carabao Cup third-round matchup with Newcastle United also awaits.