(Rotterdam) Jeremie Frimpong had a goal and an assist as the Netherlands blanked Canada 4-0 in a friendly on Thursday, spoiling Jesse Marsch’s debut as Canada’s men’s soccer coach.
Memphis Depay, Wout Weghorst and Virgil van Dijk also scored at Stadion Feijenoord for the Dutch, ranked seventh in the world.
Canada is ranked 49th in FIFA.
The match was balanced for much of the first half, but the crowd favorites dominated the second section.
Depay put the Netherlands ahead in the 50th minute, tapping home a perfect cross from Frimpong. Alphonso Davies, making his debut as captain, gave the Bayer Leverkusen defender too much space when delivering the cross.
It was Depay’s 45th goal for his country. Only retiree Robin van Persie scored more, with 50 goals.
Frimpong scored in the 57th minute. Weghorst made it 3-0 in the 63rd, then Van Dijk added to the score in the 83rd with a header after Canada failed to clear following a Dutch corner.
Marsch and the Canadians wore poppy armbands, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The 50-year-old American was named coach on May 13.
Marsch’s coaching background includes Leeds United, RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal). His last job was at Leeds, who let him go in February 2023, after a year at the helm.
These are preparations for Canada’s Copa America campaign. The maple leaf’s first match will be held on June 20 against World Cup champions Argentina.
The Netherlands and France are preparing for Euro 2024 which begins on June 14 in Germany.
Canada and the Netherlands had only faced each other once. The Dutch won 3-0 in Toronto in June 1994, in the run-up to the World Cup held 30 years ago.