Davy Propper netted twice as Netherlands kept their hopes of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup alive with a well-deserved win over Bulgaria.
Davy Propper – one of three players brought in by Dick Advocaat after their humiliating defeat to France – turned out to be the man of the hour for the Netherlands as he scored a brilliant brace to ensure their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup 2018 remain intact.
Captain Arjen Robben doubled Netherlands’ advantage after half-time, before Bulgaria’s Georgi Kostadinov capitalized on Ivelin Popov’s free-kick to ensure the hosts had to work hard to taste victory. Propper then headed in with 10 minutes remaining to secure a win that exacted revenge after the country’s 2-0 loss to Bulgaria in March.
Netherlands are now above Bulgaria in the third position in Group A, but still face a tough task to qualify, as Sweden sit three points clear of them with only two games to play. The Hard Tackle takes a look at some of the best tweets during the game as fans took to Twitter to express their views on the entertaining debacle.
? Daley Blind assisted two out of three goals for Oranje against Bulgaria tonight. #ajax #mufc #nedbul pic.twitter.com/W6U5SxYotm
— AjaxDaily (@ajaxdailydotcom) September 3, 2017
Captain Robben & Daley Blind carrying this Dutch team but very shaky defensively #NEDBUL pic.twitter.com/0yjQWgc7bw
— luke candler (@lukas8909) September 3, 2017
Arjen Robben celebrating his goal against Bulgaria! #NEDBUL pic.twitter.com/X3gWPmCqI6
— Home Bayern (@HomeBayern___) September 3, 2017
What a decision by Advocaat to play Davy Pröpper in the 10 behind Janssen. Not his best position but 2 goals and great link up play. #NEDBUL
— Michael Statham (@EredivisieMike) September 3, 2017
The Netherlands really struggling at the moment. Positional play is so static, too easy for Bulgaria to defend this #NEDBUL
— Erik van den Berg (@FRvoetbalErik) September 3, 2017
Propper scores again! We have to play him in a more advanced role!! #NEDBUL #BHAFC
— Henry (@GeddesChris) September 3, 2017
Have no idea why Janssen rejected move to Brighton.. him and Propper playing together week in week out will benefit NED greatly. #NEDBUL
— Wallace | ウォレース (@walldotfm) September 3, 2017
It's almost like Davy Propper is better than Sneijder these days #NEDBUL
— Mike (@BRFC1994) September 3, 2017
While most fans were happy to praise Propper, many of them also took note of Promes’ dreadful display. However, they seemed to remain divided on whether or not Depay should have been handed a start in his place. Take a look:
#NEDBUL Promes should be on the bench not Memphis
— .. (@ahmed__aq) September 3, 2017
Memphis > Promes #nedbul
— Romy ⚽️?? (@MissxRomy) September 3, 2017
Great footwork by Promes and assist by Blind for the tap in. COME ON!! #NEDBUL
— bouke (@BoukeMink) September 3, 2017
GOOOOOAL, 3-1! Promes with a cross that finds Propper. His second goal of the evening! #NEDBUL
— Erik van den Berg (@FRvoetbalErik) September 3, 2017
Always a sign of a good player, Propper with the lay off, keeps on the move, ghosts into the box, nice finish from Promes cross! #NEDBUL
— Rosco (@McIntoshRosco) September 3, 2017
Promes. Hoi ???? #NEDBUL pic.twitter.com/0LmlKLOzkN
— Brenn (@Brennyy_x) September 3, 2017
Captain Arjen Robben also seemed to be quite talked about, but mainly for the fact that he was the only one who thanked the fans while the rest of the team just walked away.
Painful to see, Robben is the only one thanking the audience… Sad that the biggest star is the one thinking of the fans #nedbul
— HandsOfStekelenburg (@HandsOfStek) September 3, 2017
Arjen Robben: ''The boys should have thanked the fans. It was bit awkward doing it alone. They came here to support us.'' #NEDBUL pic.twitter.com/KonlcoD9qq
— Football 24/7 (@foetball247) September 3, 2017
Well Netherlands just won 3-1, Robben scored a genius goal, dived and it was like the last World Cup for 90 mins #NEDBUL
— Jenny van Hooff (@Jennyhvh) September 3, 2017
Fun fact, when I was about 2 or 3 and you asked me who I was gonna marry, I would say "Ajen Jobbe"
Aka our saviour Arjen Robben?#NEDBUL— A̶n̶ø̶u̶k̶/TOMORROW (@blurrybarakat) September 3, 2017
#NEDBUL
Robben is no doubt 1 of the best left footers in the game— frenxh_man (@VictorEddy20) September 3, 2017
Robben scores! But he didn't cut inside beforehand…#NEDBUL pic.twitter.com/2dSVINAIkD
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) September 3, 2017
What a player Arjen Robben is, 33 year old and still a boss #NEDBUL
— Kyle Arbuckle (@KyleArbuckle) September 3, 2017