Netherlands Predicted Lineup Vs Hungary for Nations League Clash in Budapest

Here is our Netherlands predicted lineup for the UEFA Nations League fixture in Budapest against Hungary on Friday night, October 11.

Netherlands Predicted Lineup Vs Hungary in UEFA Nations League Tie

How Netherlands Have Lined up Recently

For September’s double-header of internationals, Ronald Koeman made only one change to his lineup, with Joshua Zirkzee leading the line against Bosnia, marking his full international debut with a goal at Philips Stadion. Brian Brobbey got the nod against Germany three nights later.

So, expect a very similar starting lineup here, albeit with at least one enforced change.

Right-back is, almost inarguably, the most competitive position in this team, but Denzel Dumfries continues to be Koeman’s go-to man, chosen over Jeremie Frimpong and Lutsharel Geertruida, both of whom started matches during the Euros.

Likewise, in the middle, it’s a question of who will be Virgil van Dijk’s partner, with Matthijs de Ligt starting both fixtures last month, after Stefan de Vrij had been first-choice during the summer, while Micky van de Ven isn’t a bad option either.

Netherlands’ Recent Form and Tactics

Netherlands have reached two of the three previous editions of the UEFA Nations League Finals, runners-up during the inaugural staging in 2019, before being beaten semi-finalists on home soil last year, dumped out 4-2 after extra time by Croatia at De Kuip.

After a positive start to this campaign, they are in a strong position as they seek to reach next summer’s final four tournament again.

On matchday one last month, Oranje scored five in a Nations League fixture for the first time, hammering Bosnia & Herzegovina 5-2 in Eindhoven.

Zirkzee headed home the opener a mere 13 minutes into his first international start, followed by goals from Tijjani Reijnders and then Cody Gakpo that gave them control, before late strikes from Wout Weghorst and Xavi Simons sealed the points.

Three nights later, the Dutch welcomed fierce rivals Germany to the Johan Cruijff Arena, with the pair serving up an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Reijnders broke the deadlock inside 100 seconds, only for die Mannschaft to fight back, leading 2-1 at the interval, before Dumfries’ goal shortly after the break secured a draw in Amsterdam.

In the new-look Nations League, the top two both advance to the new quarter-final round, where they’ll face a group winner or runner-up from another section; potential opponents currently are: Portugal and Croatia, France and Italy as well as Spain and Denmark.

This month will be key in determining whether or not Netherlands have a good chance of a top two finish, considering they’ll travel to Munich on Monday.

Before then, they’ll face Hungary in Budapest.

Marco Rossi’s side have lost only one of their last 13 fixtures at Puskás Aréna, unbeaten in ten, but Holland have won each of their last nine encounters with the Hungarians, dating back to 1984, so which way will this one go?

Netherlands Injuries to Consider

Left-back could be a concern, considering Nathan Aké suffered a long-term hamstring injury during the draw with Germany last month, while Daley Blind retired from international duty in the summer and Jurriën Timber has remained at Arsenal to work on his fitness.

As a result, the two natural left-back options are both inexperienced; 18 year old Jorrel Hato’s solitary cap came away to Gibraltar last November, while Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen is currently uncapped, a fact that’s likely to change.

In midfield, Teun Koopmeiners is injured, Jerdy Schouten hasn’t been called up and Frenkie de Jong is still in Barcelona, having made only two brief cameo appearances in the last week, after not featuring since the Clásico all the way back on April 21 due to an ankle injury.

Thus, Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders are certainties to start in midfield, but it remains to be seen who’ll lineup alongside.

Lastly, leading the line will not be Wout Weghorst nor Memphis, who’s recently joined Brasileirão side Corinthians, as neither have been called up, so once again Zirkzee and Brobbey are the candidates.