Netherlands began life after Ronald Koeman with a 1-0 win over Poland in the Nations League on Friday, while Italy’s struggles in the Nations League continued in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Netherlands 1:0 Poland
Koeman left his post as head coach in August to take over the reins at La Liga giants Barcelona, with his former assistant Dwight Lodeweges promoted to interim boss.
Lodeweges’ side were good value for all three points from their opening Nations League Group B4 game, taking the lead shortly after the hour courtesy of Steven Bergwijn’s first international goal.
New Manchester United signing Donny van de Beek was introduced after that, but he was unable to inspire the hosts to another goal their superiority deserved.
Quincy Promes was the first player on either side to enjoy a clear sight of goal, the Ajax man dragging his shot wide of Wojciech Szczesny’s left-hand post after being played through by Bergwijn midway through the first half.
Jasper Cillessen was then belatedly called into action with half an hour played, pushing over Krzysztof Piatek’s curled effort from Tomasz Kedziora’s low cross.
The Dutch continued to look threatening in attack and Frenkie de Jong almost handed them a half-time lead, but his volley crashed back off Szczesny’s upright.
The hosts deservedly went ahead in the 61st minute, Hans Hateboer heading De Jong’s deep cross into the path of Bergwijn, who tapped into an empty net from four yards.
Although Lodeweges’ men did not add to that goal, they never looked like relinquishing their lead on the way to three routine points.
Italy 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Stefano Sensi’s second international goal rescued Italy a Nations League draw as their 11-game winning streak came to an end in a 1-1 stalemate with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Azzurri arrived in Florence looking to extend their record-breaking run of consecutive victories to 12 but found themselves up against a resolute defence and undone by the visitors’ veteran Serie A striker Edin Dzeko, who scored from close range after 57 minutes.
Italy boss Roberto Mancini opted to leave last season’s European Golden Boot-winner Ciro Immobile out of his starting lineup and watched as his forwards squandered the few chances that came their way.
But Sensi applied a cool finish to Lorenzo Insigne’s cross after the talented attacker teed him up in the 67th minute to avoid a shock defeat.
Federico Chiesa hit the side-netting from six yards as Italy probed for an opener and Insigne whipped a 20-yard free kick just over the crossbar after 17 minutes.
Bosnia-Herzegovina wingers Armin Hodzic and Edin Visca made their presence felt, linking up in a fast break before the latter lashed a fierce shot high and wide from 12 yards shortly before the half-hour mark.
The Azzurri survived a scare when Hodzic rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma seven minutes into the second half before hitting the outside of the post from an extremely tight angle.
After Insigne had a close-range header saved by Ibrahim Sehic, Dzeko broke the deadlock with a simple left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner of the net having been found by Toni Sunjic’s knockdown six yards out.
Ten minutes later, Insigne’s cross found Sensi unmarked just inside the penalty area and he side-footed a low shot that took a deflection on its way past Sehic into the bottom corner of the net.
Alessandro Florenzi should have won it when he burst into the box with 19 minutes left but his low drive from 12 yards was well saved by the diving Sehic.
In other results:
Scotland 1:1 Israel
Romania 1:1 Northern Ireland
Belarus 0:2 Albania
Norway 1:2 Austria