The big preview: UEFA Nations League

Netherlands

The Netherlands shocked most to be crowned champions of a group containing World Cup winners France and former winners Germany – (C) Peter Dejong/AP

World Ranking – 16th

Top scorer during Nations League- Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum – Two goals each

Form- Three wins, two draws and one loss

During their last six games, they have won, lost and drawn with Joachim Löw’s Germany, with the first match ending in a 3-0 win as Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum added to the former World Cup winners woes. The second match the two played decided the fate of the semi-finals with Die Mannschaft leading 2-0 with six minutes to go until a late rally from Ronald Koeman’s side secured them a 2-2 draw, van Dijk scoring the crucial equalising goal.

Most recently the two European sides met with Germany getting their revenge winning 3-2 as new Dortmund signing Nico Schulz scored the winner. The Dutch national team also drew 1-1 with World Cup finalists Belgium before they beat France 2-0 as both Depay and Wijnaldum doubled their Nations League tally.

Koeman’s side routed Belarus 4-0 to get to this stage as the same combination of players that scored in the first Germany win netted again to help open their European Championship qualifying campaign.

How they got here –

Competing in arguably the toughest group containing the last two World Cup winners France and Germany, the Netherlands were certainly third favourites to book their place in Portugal. The campaign got off to the worse start possible, losing 2-1 to France after Olivier Giroud cancelled out Ryan Babel’s equaliser.

Their best was yet to come as they blew away Germany in their second game of the group stage as Die Mannschaft’s lack of clinical finishing was punished three times as their Dutch rivals ran away with a 3-0 win.

And they weren’t done there as they got their revenge over Les Bleus when they hosted them in Rotterdam, where their dominance only allowed Didier Deschamps’ men to have two shots on target. The hosts controlled the game as Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring before Memphis Depay also continued the trend of scoring from the spot as they won 2-0.

The final match of the group stage was open for either Germany or the Netherlands to qualify, the 2014 champions Germany looking much more like the side that lifted the illustrious World Cup trophy as they stormed into a two-goal lead. With just six minutes to go, late goals from Quincy Promes and Virgil van Dijk meant that the away side would complete what seemed the impossible and win the group.

Team news –

Ronald Koeman dropped five players from his preliminary squad named earlier this month. Those players were Steven Berghuis, Terence Kongolo, Pablo Rosario, Wout Weghorst and Jeroen Zoet.

Former Everton boss Koeman has had to make one change from his original 23 after Lyon full-back Kenny Tete was injured in training at the weekend.

Atalanta’s Hans Hateboer will replace him, the 25-year-old has previously played three times including his debut as his national side lost 1-0 to England in March 2018.

Both Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum will be hoping to use their Champions League victory to guide the Netherlands to a first international trophy since 1988.

23-man squad – 

Goalkeepers: Marco Bizot (AZ Alkmaar), Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona), Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord)

Defenders: Nathan Aké (Bournemouth), Daley Blind (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale Milano), Denzel Dumfries (PSV), Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax), Hans Hateboer (Atalanta), Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion), Kevin Strootman (Marseille), Donny van de Beek (Ajax), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Fulham), Steven Bergwijn (PSV Eindhoven), Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven), Memphis Depay (Lyon), Quincy Promes (Sevilla)

Turn over for the Portugal