A pivotal Group D clash between the Netherlands and Austria takes place on Tuesday, with both sides fighting for a place in the last 16 of UEFA Euro 2024.
The Netherlands head into the Berlin meeting with four points from their opening two games. That means they are guaranteed a top two spot if they avoid defeat to Austria, while a win could help them secure top spot depending on the outcome of France’s battle with Poland.
However, Austria can leapfrog the Netherlands with a win, which would see them finish in the top two. In fact, they may end up as group winners in the unlikely scenario that they beat the Netherlands and France fail to beat Poland, while a draw would likely be enough to secure qualification via third place.
The two nations were also drawn against each other in the Euro 2020 group stage and it was the Netherlands who came out on top on that occasion. Goals from Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries – both expected to start this Tuesday – separated the sides.
team news
Ronald Koeman has no fitness concerns going into the crucial match against Austria after all his players walked away from the clash with France unscathed. However, he made some changes against Didier Deschamps’ side with Jeremie Frimpong coming on at right wing.
Whether Koeman sticks with the Bayer Leverkusen man remains to be seen, but he is unlikely to make many changes elsewhere. Depay should lead the line with Xavi Simons behind him or on the right wing and Cody Gakpo on the other wing.
Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij were chosen to partner at center-back, with Tijjani Reijnders and Jerdy Schouten preferred in midfield.
Ralf Rangnick made several changes against Poland following their 1-0 defeat to France, opting for a completely new centre-back partnership. Out went Max Wober, who scored an own goal against the French, and Kevin Danso, who were replaced by Gernot Trauner and Philipp Lienhart.
Trauner scored in the opener against Poland but got injured an hour ago. He could miss out against the Netherlands as a result, but Marko Arnautovic should keep his place up top after coming on for Michael Gregoritsch and scoring from the penalty spot.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Reijnders, Schouten; Frimpong, Simons, Gakpo; Depay
Austria’s possible starting lineup:
Pentz; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Seiwald, Laimer; Wimmer, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Gregoritsch
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