WALES continued their preparations for Euro 2016 with an encouraging display against the Netherlands, but were reminded of the class they’ll face this summer in France by a superb Arjen Robben.

A friendly it may have been, but Welsh fans will still be feeling pleased with their charges who impressed against the Dutch despite a slew of injuries.

For boss Chris Coleman the task couldn’t have been any more simple, to try and maintain the feel good, party atmosphere engulfing football fans in Wales, without most of his star names.

Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey were the headline misses, but the likes of Hal Robson-Kanu, David Cotterill and Sam Vokes being absent compounded the issue, with Wales nothing short of depleted in an attacking sense.

It meant opportunity knocked for the likes of Tom Lawrence, given a first senior start by Chris Coleman, with the rest of the line-up somewhat more familiar, despite the issues surrounding player selection.

Arsene Wenger, Tony Pulis and Garry Monk are among the managers who have expressed either irritation at this friendly or in Wenger’s case, anger at player selection – namely Aaron Ramsey – meaning Coleman has been forced to resolutely defend his position in preparation for Euro 2016.

A friendly this may have been, but it still felt somewhat bizarre to witness Wales preparing for a major tournament by taking on a Dutch side that certainly won’t be in France next year, having incredibly finished fourth in their qualifying group.

This is far from the powerhouse Netherlands of the 80s, 90s and 2000s, but with the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Robben in their line-up, there was still enough quality to provide a huge test for Coleman’s men, especially as this is a Dutch side with everything to prove after their dismal qualifying campaign.

The opening quarter of the contest featured few incidents of note as neither side faced too tough a test, indeed, the only thing that was hard was the rain, which led to the pitch cutting up somewhat, a rare sight on an international night.

Youngster Lawrence carved out Wales’ first chance, cutting inside and beating his defender with relish as the number 11 did his best Bale impression, but the finish lacked lustre and Jasper Cillessen gathered with ease.

The Blackburn loanee was the brightest Welsh spark before the break, also dragging wide just before the half hour, but moments later, it was the Netherlands who took the lead with a goal straight out of their playbook from the glory days, a sweeping move full of penetration and panache.

Bas Dost’s clever flick-on aided a move revolving around Robben, with the ball swept out to Newcastle’s Daryl Janmaat, who provided the perfect centre for Dost to head home, Wayne Hennessey unable to keep the ball out despite getting his body to the effort.

The goal was a little harsh on Wales who roared back just before the interval, even if the penalty they were awarded seemed harsh in the extreme, Terence Kongolo adjudged to have handled James Chester’s shot, ferociously struck at him from a matter of yards.

There was a good story to the penalty, Joe Allen’s effort saved by Cillessen, incredibly the first penalty save of the Ajax goalkeeper’s career, having infamously been subbed for Newcastle’s Tim Krul, just for the penalty shoot-out, in the 2015 World Cup.

However, Wales weren’t to be denied, Allen’s effort repelled back to Joe Ledley who stroked home a first Welsh goal in five years, his fourth for the Dragons.

The Dutch certainly seemed to have a spring in their step and they underlined in on 55 minutes, a sensational run from Robben seeing him cut in from the right and fire past Hennessey, a terrific goal from a terrific player.

Wales almost replied through youngster George Williams on his return from serious injury, but this game was always going to be more about performance and experience, with Coleman giving some of his fringe players a chance to impress.

However, losing doesn’t come easy to this Welsh side, who injuries or no injuries weren’t prepared roll over, equalising with twenty minutes remaining when sub Emyr Huws headed home Joe Allen’s centre after a smart short corner.

Both sides had chances to win it, Robben especially guilty of a glaring miss by his standards, but the Bayern Munich ace had the last laugh, comfortably beating sub Owain Fon Williams, making his first appearance after six-years of squad inclusion to secure an eighth win from eight for the Dutch over the Dragons.

Wales: Hennessey (Fon Williams 73), Gunter (Henley 65), Taylor (Dummett 65), Davies, Chester, Williams (Collins 46), Allen, King, Ledley (Huws 55), J Williams (G Williams 59), Lawrence

Subs not used: Church, Vaughan, Fon Williams, Edwards, MacDonald, Collins, Ward, Bradshaw, Henley

Booked: None

Netherlands: Cillessen, Janmaat, Bruma, Van Dijk (Veltman 46), Kongolo, Clasie (Bazoer 87), Promes (Wijnaldum 90), Blind, Dost, Sneijder, Robben

Subs not used: Tete, De Jong, Pieters, Vejinovic, Elia, Huntelaar, Depay, Stekelenburg, Zoet

Booked: None

Referee: Benoit Bastien (France)

Attendance: 25699

Argus star man: Arjen Robben