Mueez Ajao
– Memphis was in his elements on Tuesday when he scored first Netherlands hat-trick to level Cruyff in all-time scoring chart.
– Depay struck three times and set up another in the Oranje’s 6-1 home win against Turkey.
– The Barcelona player now has 33 goals to his name for his country from 71 appearances.
– The Barcelona forward surpassed Wesley Sneijder and pulled level with the legendary figure with an impressive display for Louis van Gaal’s team.
– Turkey slipped from top to third in the group as they stayed on 11 points with Norway moving second, behind the Dutch on goal difference, after beating Gibraltar 5-1 on Tuesday.
– The Netherlands picked up where they left off after an emphatic 4-0 win over Montenegro on Saturday to snatch the lead as Klaassen combined with Depay to score almost straight from the kick off.
– An aggressive Dutch approach led to Klaassen then providing the assist for Depay’s first goal in the 17th minute as they doubled the score and it was 3-0 at halftime after Depay converted a 38th-minute penalty.
– Depay completed his hat-trick with a diving header on the goal-line to touch home Steven Berghuis’s cross in the 54th minute before Til and Malen sealed the win with two more goals.
– Depay said after the game that he hopes to climb even further up the national team’s goal chart, while he admitted that he could have performed even better against Turkey.
– “I’m happy, but I expect more from myself. People think that I’m always floating and that everything is going well,” he said to NOS.
– “I’m important and threatening, I always will be, whatever happens. I thought it was a great evening with a great atmosphere, I hope everyone enjoyed it.
– “[Cruyff and Lenstra] are two legends, you can’t compare them to anyone. They have done so many defining things and put Netherlands on the map.
– “For me it’s great that I keep scoring goals and that we win. I strive for more. I want to be in the top three of the top scorers list.”
– Depay has been in spectacular form for Netherlands over the last year, smashing in 14 goals in his last 14 appearances.
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