All the confirmed team news from the high-profile international friendly between Netherlands and Belgium that is set to take place on Wednesday.
Tenth ranked Netherlands host fourth ranked neighbours Belgium it what promises to be an entertaining affair.
Netherlands
Oranje boss Danny Blind has confirmed star Arjen Robben will be rested for the friendly, with the winger having just recovered from an injury. With an eye on the World Cup qualifiers, the Bayern Munich forward is most likely to witness the game from the bench.
The Dutch team has quite a few injury concerns. In defence, Rick Karsdorp and Terence Kongolo were among those called-up for the game but both had to pull out after sustaining injuries. PSV’s Joshua Brenet and Porto’s Bruno Martins Indi have been called in as the replacements, while Daryl Janmaat is still nursing his shoulder injury.
Midfielder Davy Propper has been ruled out while Kevin Strootman has not been called-up by Danny Blind. Quincy Promes was another casualty, and was replaced by Steven Berghuis.
Manchester United’s Daley Blind and Liverpool’s Georgino Wijnaldum are among the certainties to start the game.
The complete squad:
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Everton), Michel Vorm (Tottenham Hotspur), Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona).
Defenders: Jeffrey Bruma (Wolfsburg), Virgil van Dijk (Southampton), Daley Blind (Manchester United), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Marvin Zeegelaar (Sporting Lisbon), Joshua Brenet (PSV), Bruno Martins Indi (Stoke on loan).
Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (Southampton), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Bart Ramselaar (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Georgino Wijnaldum (Liverpool), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Stijn Schaars (Heerenveen).
Forwards: Bas Dost (Sporting Lisbon), Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Memphis Depay (Manchester United), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Jeremain Lens (Fenerbahce), Steven Berghuis (Feyenoord on loan).
Belgium
Unlike the Netherlands, Roberto Martinez doesn’t have much injury concerns before the game.
Captain Vincent Kompany is said to be fit and ready to play on Wednesday. The Manchester City defender must be hoping to accumulate some crucial playing-time before their World-Cup qualifier at the weekend.
Defender Toby Alderweireld continues to nurse his knee injury, which means he won’t play any part against the Oranje. Full-back Thomas Foket has received his first call-up for Belgium, while Thorgan Hazard has recovered from his knee problem to join his elder brother, Eden, in the team.
Martinez decided to drop midfielder Radja Nainggolan, insisting the player needs to prove his fitness first.
The manager also stated Dries Mertens’ form for Belgium is making him ponder about starting the Napoli winger over Kevin De Bruyne, who himself has been at his typical best for his club.
The complete squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Mats Selz (Newcastle United).
Defenders: Luis Cavanda (Galatasaray), Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact), Thomas Foket (Gent), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Christian Kabasele (Watford), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Steven Defour (Burnley), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht), Axel Witsel (Zenit).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Liverpool).
