Here is our Netherlands predicted lineup for the UEFA Nations League fixture in Zenica against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Tuesday, November 19.
Netherlands Predicted Lineup Vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in UEFA Nations League Fixture
How Netherlands Have Lined up Recently
Ronald Koeman has stuck with tried and tested players during this UEFA Nations League campaign so far. In fact, five Dutchmen have started all five fixtures in this campaign so far. They are: Bart Verbruggen, Denzel Dumfries, Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders and Cody Gakpo.
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Nevertheless, given Holland’s position in Group A3, Koeman is expected to heavily rotate for Tuesday’s trip to Stadion Bilino Polje.
Netherlands’ Recent Form and Tactics
Netherlands have featured in two of the three previous editions of the UEFA Nations League Finals, runners-up in 2019 and defeated semi-finalists on home soil in 2023, currently on course for another final-four appearance.
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On Saturday night, Oranje rubber-stamped their place in the quarter-finals by hammering Hungary 4-0 at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
Wout Weghorst and Gakpo both converted first-half penalties in Amsterdam, before Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners got in on the act after the interval.
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This secured second spot in Group A3 for the Dutch, behind neighbours Germany, who ended their 13-match unbeaten streak in Nations League group fixtures last month.
So, come March, Holland will face either Portugal, France or Spain in a two-legged affair, with a spot in June’s Nations League Finals at stake.
Here, they’ll take on a Bosnia & Herzegovina side who are already relegated, having yielded just a solitary point from their five outings.
Sergej Barbarez’s side were swatted aside 5-2 in Eindhoven in the reverse fixture before, at the weekend, the Golden Lilies were dismantled by Germany, steamrollered 7-0 in Freiburg, their heaviest-ever international defeat.
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In all four seasons of the Nations League, Bosnia have either been promoted from League B or relegated from League A; are they the tournament’s first-ever yo-yo team?
Thus, in summary, neither team has anything tangible to play for in Zenica, so will that lead to a stalemate of a high-scoring thriller?
Netherlands Injuries to Consider
The KNVB confirmed on Monday morning that both captain Virgil van Dijk as well as Frenkie de Jong had both returned to their clubs. Meantime, Micky van de Ven, Lutsharel Geertruida and Xavi Simons are all sidelined due to injuries.
Prior to his ankle ligament injury, suffered against Liverpool last month, Simons had started seven successive internationals.
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As alluded to earlier, Koeman is highly-likely to heavily rotated, given that his team have already cemented second spot.
Mark Flekken will be donning the gloves for the first time since March, ending Bart Verbruggen’s streak of 14 consecutive starts.
In defence, Jan Paul van Hecke started for the very first time on Saturday, set to keep his place, with Matthijs de Ligt most-likely to come in alongside.
Right-back Devyne Rensch, who’s sole cap came against Türkiye in September 2021, could also see some minutes. Neither Justin Kluivert nor Joshua Zirkzee were even on the bench at the weekend, but both will be back in the fold.
Bournemouth winger Kluivert in particular is desperate to take the field, having not done so for the senior national team since September 2018.
Netherlands Predicted Lineup Vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
GK: Mark Flekken.
RB: Devyne Rensch.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt.
CB: Jan Paul van Hecke.
LB: Jorrel Hato.
CDM: Ryan Gravenberch.
CM: Quinten Timber.
CM: Teun Koopmeiners.
RW: Jeremie Frimpong.
LW: Justin Kluivert.
ST: Wout Weghorst.
