Netherlands 1-1 Poland Player Ratings: Denzel Dumfries Rated 8/10 as Both Nations Shared Points in a Tense 1-1 Draw

What a fascinating encounter we just witnessed between the two European nations who are fighting for the place in the upcoming 2026 World Cup at the Feijenoord stadium situated in the city of Feijenoord. The match between the Netherlands and Poland ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that feels both fair and frustrating depending on which side you were rooting for from your couch. The Dutch absolutely dominated the ball in the initial phase of the game. They looked to build patiently from the back, with their midfielders pulling all the strings and the full-backs giving width up top in the final third of the pitch. It felt like only a matter of time before they broke through.

That breakthrough came in the 28th minute of the match. A corner whipped in found its way to one of the best right backs in the world Denzel Dumfries, who made no mistake with a powerful header. The home crowd erupted with joy, and it seemed the Dutch would cruise to victory without any further obstacles. They continued to create chances, but Poland's defense was just incredibly stubborn, blocking shots and clearing lines with desperation and skill.

Then, against the run of play, the unthinkable happened. With just ten minutes left on the clock, Aston Villa player Matty Cash found space and unleashed a strike to level the scores. It was a classic smash-and-grab point for Poland in the fixture aimed to cement their place in the 2026 World Cup. The Netherlands will be kicking themselves for not putting the game to bed, while Poland will travel home absolutely delighted with 1 hard earned point.

Here are our Netherlands Vs Poland Player Ratings

Netherlands Player Ratings vs Poland

Here are Netherlands Player Ratings vs Poland

Goalkeeper

Bart Verbruggen - 6.5: Had a very quiet evening for the most part. His distribution was perfect, literally 100% accuracy, which is impressive. He only faced one shot on target that he had to save from inside the box. We can't really fault him for the goal, it was a well-taken strike. Overall, a spectator for large periods of the game.

Defenders

Jan Paul van Hecke - 6.0: Seemed a bit nervy to us. While he was tidy in possession with a high pass completion rate, he struggled with the physical side of things. He was dribbled past twice and lost a few aerial duels. It didn't surprise us to see him substituted late on after picking up a knock.

Virgil van Dijk - 7.5: A true captain's display. He was a monster on the ball, completing 119 passes and dictating the entire tempo from the back. Defensively, he was imperious, making 5 clearances and winning his tackles. It's just a shame his stellar performance didn't result in a clean sheet. He looked visibly frustrated at the final whistle.

Micky van de Ven - 7.0: A really solid performance from the left-back. He showed great composure, winning most of his duels and even getting forward to create a chance. His pace was a valuable asset in both defence and attack. A very encouraging display that suggests he's cementing his place in the side.

Denzel Dumfries - 8.0: Our man of the match without a doubt. He was an absolute menace down the right flank all game. Scored the opening goal with a thumping header and was a constant threat, taking four shots in total. He worked tirelessly, making tackles and recovering the ball. A complete wing-back performance.

Midfielders

Xavi Simons - 6.5: A frustrating night for the youngster. He was full of energy and clever movement, but his final product was lacking. We noticed he lost possession 12 times which really broke up his team's rhythm. You can see the talent is there, but it just didn't quite click for him in this match.

Ryan Gravenberch - 7.0: He was everywhere in the midfield. Racked up an incredible 122 touches, constantly demanding the ball and trying to drive his team forward. He was busy, tidy, and kept the game moving. Maybe lacked that decisive, defence-splitting pass but his engine was crucial.

Cody Gakpo - 6.5: A mixed bag from Gakpo. He created a couple of really good chances and looked dangerous when cutting inside. However, he was caught offside twice and was dispossessed four times, which was far too many. We felt he was trying to force things a little too much.

Tijjani Reijnders - 6.5: He will be wondering how he didn't score. He had three shots and was unlucky to see one hit the woodwork. He got into great positions but his finishing let him down. An active performance but lacked the killer instinct needed to seal the game.

Frenkie de Jong - 7.5: Pure class in the heart of midfield. He controlled the game with effortless grace, gliding past players and always picking the right pass. His 92% pass accuracy shows his quality. Defensively he was also astute, making key interceptions. The game lost a bit of control after he was substituted.

Forwards

Memphis Depay - 7.5: He was the creative hub for the Dutch. He didn't score, but he created three chances, including a big one, and his assist for the goal was superb. His movement and link-up play caused Poland problems all evening. A very intelligent and influential performance before being taken off.

Substitutes

Wout Weghorst - 6.0: Came on to be a physical presence but couldn't make a decisive impact.

Donyell Malen - 6.0: Added some pace but didn't see much of the ball.

Quinten Timber - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Justin Kluivert - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

R. Koeman - 6.5: His game plan to dominate possession worked perfectly, but his team's lack of a cutting edge cost them dearly. They created enough to win two games but failed to take their chances. The late concession from a rare defensive lapse will be a huge source of frustration for him and his staff.

Poland Player Ratings vs Netherlands

Here are Poland Player Ratings vs Netherlands

Goalkeeper

Lukasz Skorupski - 6.0: This was a strange one. He made four saves, with three coming from inside the box which is commendable. However, the stats sheet says he made an error leading to a goal. That's a huge moment that you can't ignore. His distribution was also quite poor. A shaky performance despite the saves.

Defenders

Matty Cash - 7.5: Poland's hero on the night. He was run ragged defensively but stuck to his task, making 7 clearances and 5 tackles. Then, he produced a moment of magic, scoring the vital equalizer with a fantastic finish. An all-action display full of heart and quality when it mattered most.

Przemysław Wiśniewski - 6.5: A solid, unflashy performance at the back. He won most of his duels and made four important tackles. He did his job effectively without any fuss before an unfortunate injury ended his night. His team will be pleased with his contribution.

Jan Bednarek - 7.0: What a warrior. From our perspective, he was a magnet for the ball, making a staggering 11 clearances. He put his body on the line time and time again to keep his team in the game. An absolutely colossal defensive performance that was key to securing the draw.

Jakub Kiwior - 7.0: Another member of the Polish defensive wall that stood firm. He was strong in the tackle and composed in his defending, winning 5 of his 7 duels. Alongside Bednarek, he formed a partnership that the Netherlands attackers just couldn't break down consistently. Very impressive.

Nicola Zalewski - 6.5: He was a willing runner and tried to provide an outlet on the counter. Was desperately unlucky to hit the woodwork. However, he was also quite wasteful, losing possession 11 times. A threat, but lacked the final polish.

Midfielders

Piotr Zieliński - 6.0: We were really disappointed with his performance. As one of Poland's main creative forces, he was virtually anonymous. He struggled to get on the ball and influence the game in any meaningful way. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Jakub Kaminski - 6.0: Worked hard up and down the flank but offered very little attacking threat. He was caught offside twice and struggled to get the better of his opposing full-back. A performance full of effort but lacking in quality.

Bartosz Slisz - 6.0: A purely combative display. He was there to break up play, and he did commit three fouls in the process. On the ball, he offered very little, with a pass accuracy of just 65%. A dogged but limited performance.

Sebastian Szymański - 6.0: Missed a huge chance with a header in the first half which he should have buried. Like Zielinski, he struggled to make an impact on the game. He worked hard defensively but was mostly a passenger when his team had the ball.

Forwards

Robert Lewandowski - 6.0: A spectator. He was completely isolated up front, touching the ball just 17 times in 64 minutes. The service to him was non-existent. He did well to win a few free-kicks, but one of the world's best strikers was completely nullified. A day he'll want to forget.

Substitutes

Karol Swiderski - 6.0: Brought on for Lewandowski but fared little better in terms of service.

Kamil Grosicki - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Bartosz Kapustka - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Tomasz Kedziora - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

R. Góralczyk - 7.5: A tactical masterclass in how to get a result against a superior opponent. He set his team up to be compact and resilient, and they followed his instructions to the letter. The defensive organisation was superb. His game plan to stay in the match and hope for a moment of magic worked to perfection.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Denzel Dumfries