Wales vs Holland match report: Chris Coleman's side undone by Arjen Robben double despite spirited fightback

(Getty Images)

Arjen Robben scored twice as Wales were handed a 3-2 defeat by the Netherlands in Cardiff last night. Chris Coleman’s weakened side showed plenty of spirit to fight back twice but were finally undone by the Bayern Munich winger’s class.

Without the injured Gareth Bale, Wales drafted in 21-year-old Tom Lawrence for his debut and the Leicester striker, currently on loan at Blackburn, featured prominently early on, forcing a save from Jasper Cillessen then firing wide from a good position.

However, it was the Netherlands who took the lead just after the half-hour when a neat move through the middle released Daryl Janmaat on the right. The Newcastle full-back had time to float a cross to the back post where Bas Dost headed at Wayne Hennessey, only for the Wales goalkeeper to palm the ball into his own net.

Wales midfielder Joe Ledley (Getty Images)

Wales equalised in added time at the end of the half when Dutch defender Terence Kongolo handled from a corner. Cillessen dived to his right to save Joe Allen’s penalty but Joe Ledley followed up to squeeze his drive in at the far post.

The visitors were back in front nine minutes into the second half thanks to a superb goal from Robben. The Netherlands captain, who had only just missed a good chance, picked up the ball down the right, cut in and, with the Wales defence backing off, curled a 20-yard shot inside Hennessey’s right post.

Yet Wales refused to fold and were rewarded with 20 minutes to go when unmarked substitute Emyr Huws got on the end of Allen’s cross to equalise with a powerful header.

More gaps were beginning to appear in the home defence and Robben capitalised with nine minutes to go, his cool finish sealing the Dutch victory.

Steven Davis was again Northern Ireland’s goal hero as they beat Latvia 1-0 at Windsor Park. Davis, who scored twice in the 3-1 victory over Greece that clinched their place at the European Championship last month, met Craig Cathcart’s long crossfield pass in the 55th minute, only for his header to be blocked by the Latvia goalkeeper Andris Vanins. Yet the Southampton midfielder reacted quickest to sweep the ball home and clinch Northern Ireland’s first friendly victory since March 2008.

World champions Germany were beaten 2-0 by France at the Stade de France in Paris.

Olivier Giroud gave France the lead on the stroke of half time but it was Anthony Martial who deserved most of the credit, beating two men down the French left before pulling the ball back for the unmarked Giroud to score from five yards. André-Pierre Gignac added a second with four minutes to go.

Two late goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Michy Batshuayi gave Belgium a 3-1 win over Italy in Brussels. The game was held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Heysel disaster and play was briefly suspended in the 39th minute to mark those who died.

Italy took the lead in the fourth minute through Lazio winger Antonio Candreva but Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen equalised nine minutes later with a powerful diving header from a corner.