Today, the Netherlands swept aside Malta with an 8-0 thrashing in the fourth matchday of Group G of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Veteran Memphis Depay led the way for the Dutch, scoring twice (in the ninth and 16th minutes) to join Robin Van Persie as the top scorer in Orange history, both with 50 goals.
Behind him are Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (42 goals), Patrick Kluivert (40), and Dennis Bergkamp and Arjen Robben, both with 37.
At the age of 31 and in his 102nd international appearance, Depay scored the 1-0 from the penalty spot and made it 2-0 with a right-footed shot, all in the first quarter of an hour.
Then, in the 20th minute, Virgil Van Dijk widened the gap with another shot from outside the box, and the 4-0 lead came with a cross-shot from Xavi Simons (61st). The Dutch winger scored his fifth goal in 28 international appearances for his country.
Donyell Malen, who replaced Memphis in the 71st minute, added two more goals (74th and 80th minutes), and the visitors’ fate was sealed by Noa Lang (78th) and Micky van de Ven (90+2nd).
A must-win for Ronald Koeman’s team, winners of their two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the previous one being a 2-0 win over Finland.
