Aside from being intriguing content, international games bring forward the exciting notion of teammates, or former teammates, facing off against each other.
In the case of current club-mates, the contest is usually preceded by a wholesome interaction.
And when former teammates land on opposing sides, fans are treated to a mini-reunion.
Yesterday’s Round of 16 tie between the Netherlands and the USMNT saw another such reunion, one that likely touched many Juventine hearts.
The game itself saw the Dutch pick up a 3-1 victory, courtesy of a few impressive performances, and a Louis Van Gaal masterclass.
The veteran gaffer’s mid-block worked to perfection and forced the Americans to play narrow without any incision.
His side also looked swift in transitions, with Denzel Dumfries’ marauding drives into opposition territory proving especially effective.
After a first half that saw two Dutch goals, the Americans stepped it up and grabbed one of their own, all before Dumfries netted a third and provided the final blow.
While the Footy action made for an entertaining watch, the pre-match scenes weren’t all too plain either, as a wholesome moment between two opposing players livened up the atmosphere.
Out for a walk on the turf, former Juventus teammates Weston McKennie and Matthijs de Ligt ran into each other and proceeded to have a lovely reunion.
As seen in these images, the American approached the Bayern Munich defender with outstretched arms and a wide smile on his face.
After sharing an embrace, the two had a chat, and de Ligt simply had to say something about McKennie’s ‘Murica’ themed hairdo.
By the looks of it, the midfielder offered a rebuttal, perhaps just pointing out how de Ligt’s trim is exactly the same.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see the pair in action against each other, as McKennie was subbed off before the Bayern man came on in the 90th minute.
Safe to say, the two aren’t leaving the European Football scene anytime soon, so there’s plenty for that to happen.
