Netherlands vs Italy Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

The Netherlands are all set to square up against Italy in the UEFA Nations League third-place playoff on Sunday.

After failing to come out on top in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, Italy and Netherlands are ready to battle it out in a third-place playoff. While no team wants to be involved in a third-place match, they will look to end their campaign on a high with a win.

The hosts failed to make it into the final and will now square up against UEFA Euro 2020 winners Italy in search of bronze. Netherlands faced Luka Modric’s Croatia in the semi-finals. It was an edge-on-the-seat thriller that ended in defeat for the Dutch team.

90 minutes were not enough to separate the two teams, and the match headed into extra time with the score of 2-2. And eventually, Modric & co. managed to come out on top with a scoreline of 4-2. Netherlands might have lost the semi-final, but they have been progressing well under Ronald Koeman.

Meanwhile, Euro 2020 winners Italy will be eager to return to winning ways with a positive result against the Netherlands. Things have not gone according to plan for Italy post their win in the Euro final. The Azzurri failed to make it to the second consecutive World Cup and also lost 3-0 to Argentina in last year’s Finalissima.

Roberto Mancini was eager to end the Nations League with the winners’ medal but unfortunately, they failed to do so. They ended up losing 2-1 to Spain in the semi-finals. La Roja have managed to book a spot in the Nations League final at the expense of Italy for the second season in a row.

While they do not really have a silverware to play for, Mancini’s men will look to end the tournament on a high with a win against the home team. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics they could use.

Team News & Tactics

Netherlands

After a disappointing outing against Croatia in the semi-final, Ronald Koeman is expected to make a few changes to the XI that started in that fixture. However, the formation shall remain the same. He will start with the 4-2-3-1, where Justin Bijlow will be in goal.

Denzel Dumfries and Tyrell Malacia will be the full-backs. Meanwhile, Sven Botman and Virgil van Dijk will be the centre-backs with Matthijs de Ligt out injured.

As far as the midfield is concerned, Frenkie de Jong and Marten de Roon will form the double pivot. They will look to provide the much-needed cover to their defence. Just above them will be Teun Koopmeiners who will feature as an attacking midfielder.

Koopmeiners will have the support of the in-demand Xavi Simons and Steven Bergwijn who will start out wide on either flank. After a disappointing performance by Cody Gakpo as the number nine in the semi-final, Wout Weghorst is expected to lead the attack against Italy.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bijlow; Dumfries, van Dijk, Botman, Malacia; de Roon, de Jong; Bergwijn, Koopmeiners, Simons; Weghorst

Italy

Roberto Mancini is expected to make wholesale changes to the XI that started against Spain. He went ahead with a back three in their last outing but might return to the preferred 4-3-3 for this fixture.

Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma will be in goal. Meanwhile, Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco will be the full-backs. In the heart of the defence, Rafael Toloi will pair up with Francesco Acerbi.

Nicolo Barella, Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be the three in the centre of the park. Barella and Pellegrini will push further up the pitch, while Verratti will feature in a holding role. Nicolo Zaniolo and Giacomo Raspadori will start out wide as the wingers. Finally, Mateo Retegui will be leading the attack.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Darmian, Toloi, Acerbi, Dimarco; Barella, Verratti, Pellegrini; Zaniolo, Retegui, Raspadori

Key Stats

• Italy and Netherlands have an even head-to-head record, both teams have won 10 matches each in the 23 meetings between the two.
• Netherlands have found the back of the net at least three times in four home games.
• Visitors Italy have scored more than a goal on seven out of the last 11 occasions.
• Netherlands have won 9 out of 10 games as hosts.
• Three out of the last six outings between the two teams have ended in a 1-1 draw.

Player to Watch

Nicolo Barella

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Barella had an exceptional 2022/23 season for Inter Milan. The Italian international led them to the Champions League final but failed to guide them to the silverware. He will be disappointed after losing out on a spot in the Nations League final but could be the difference between the two teams in this third-match playoff.

The 26-year-old featured in 52 matches throughout the season and contributed towards 19 goals. He found the back of the net on nine occasions and created ten goals for his teammates.

Prediction

Netherlands 1-2 Italy

Netherlands and Italy will face off in a third-place playoff as they look to end their campaign in the Nations League on a high. Both teams experienced defeat in the semi-finals, and while the Netherlands have been progressing well under Ronald Koeman, Italy will be eager to return to winning ways.

It promises to be an evenly contested match between two evenly matched teams, with the potential for a closely fought encounter. The Hard Tackle predicts Itay might come out on top with a scoreline of 2-1 against the home team.