Netherlands Predicted Lineup Vs Bosnia and Herzegovina for Nations League opener

The UEFA Nations League returns this week, with 2019 runners-up Netherlands kicking off their group stage campaign on Saturday night when Bosnia & Herzegovina, newly-promoted back to League A, visit Philips Stadion.

Netherlands Predicted Lineup Vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in UEFA Nations League opener

How Netherlands Have Lined up Recently

During the European Championships, Ronald Koeman’s team was largely settled, with ten players starting all three knockout phase fixtures.

Prior to the tournament, it was not clear who would be the first-choice goalkeeper, but Bart Verbruggen got the nod over Mark Flekken and proved his worth with some excellent performances.

The Oranje boast an abundance of high-class centre-backs, but Stefan de Vrij was the one chosen to be captain Virgil van Dijk’s partner, with Matthijs de Ligt and Micky van de Ven amongst the alternative options.

Memphis Depay led the line throughout the Euros but, considering he’s still without a club, the 30-year-old has not been called up this month, so expect to see Cody Gakpo or perhaps even Wout Weghorst through the middle.

Netherlands’ Recent Form and Tactics

When last we saw the Netherlands, exactly 59 days ago, they were devastatingly defeated by England in the European Championship semi-finals, taking the lead through Xavi Simons’ stunner at Westfalenstadion, only to concede with the final kick of the 90.

Nevertheless, the tournament was still seen as a massive success, with Koeman’s team overcoming both Romania and Türkiye in the knockout stages, thereby featuring in a first Euros semi-final for two decades.

In the past, particularly during his first spell in charge of the national team, Koeman favoured a combative, hard-grafting midfield trio, but Simons’ rise means he must find a place in the team for the number ten, thereby initiating a switch from a 4-3-3 to more of a 4-2-3-1.

In Group A3, the Oranje will also face Germany and then Hungary, with their neighbours to the east visiting the Johan Cruijff Arena on Tuesday, meaning Bosnia are, by far, the weakest team in this section.

As a result, this opener in Eindhoven is must must-win, so expect an attacking line-up deployed.

Netherlands Injuries to Consider

Van de Ven has withdrawn from the squad due to a knee injury, with Jan Paul van Hecke drafted in as his replacement, while midfielder Joey Veerman is also sidelined, which led to Justin Kluivert being recalled on Monday, hoping to feature for the Oranje for the first time in almost six years.

Meanwhile, fellow midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Marten de Roon are both out long-term, the pair sustaining injuries prior to the Euros.

Lastly, some better news, having sat out almost the entirety of last season due to a cruciate ligament tear, Jurriën Timber is back and fully fit for Arsenal, starting their last two Premier League matches, so could be set for a first international outing since March 2023, a 4-0 hammering in Paris, hoping for a better result this time.