The Netherlands will aim to clinch the top spot in Group D of UEFA Euro 2024 when they take on Austria at the Olympiastadion on Tuesday.
Matchday 3 of UEFA Euro 2024 is underway, with the curtains falling on the group stage in a few days. Tuesday will feature four matches before the first phase culminates on Wednesday. The Netherlands and Austria will lock horns in the most eye-catching fixture on the day, with the two teams locking horns at the Olympiastadion.
The Netherlands would have hoped to compete with France after failing to beat Les Bleus during the qualification campaign. However, Ronald Koeman’s men have sprung a surprise, jumping to the top of the table in their group ahead of France on goal difference. They kicked off UEFA Euro 2024 with a 2-1 win over Poland before playing out a goalless draw with France.
As for Austria, they began their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 defeat to France, producing a resolute display before losing the game. Ralf Rangnick’s men proved their credentials against Poland by clinching a 3-1 victory, which has left them in contention to top the standings in their group.
The most recent match-up featuring the Netherlands and Austria ended in a 2-0 win for the Oranje at UEFA Euro 2024, with Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Netherlands
Ronald Koeman does not have any new issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Austria on Tuesday, the Netherlands’ head coach will have a full-strength squad.
Brian Brobbey was the only worry for Koeman after struggling with a hamstring injury in the first week of UEFA Euro 2024. However, the Ajax striker shrugged off the issue to be on the bench against France.
Bart Verbruggen will take his spot between the sticks, with the Netherlands lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Austria. The backline should feature Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Virgil van Dijk, and Nathan Ake.
As for the midfield unit, Tijjani Reijnders and Georginio Wijnaldum should pair up in the double pivot, with Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman being one booking each away from a suspension. Jeremie Frimpong should start on the right flank, joining Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo, and Memphis Depay in the Dutch attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Ake; Reijnders, Wijnaldum; Frimpong, Simons, Gakpo; Depay
Austria
Unlike his counterpart in the Dutch dugout, Ralf Rangnick has a new injury concern to deal with ahead of the trip to the Olympiastadion. Austria’s head coach might be without one player against the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Gernot Trauner, who replaced Kevin Danso in the backline against Poland, picked up a muscular injury after scoring his goal. Rangnick is sweating over the fitness of the 32-year-old, who might miss out against the Netherlands.
Dansho should replace Trauner as Philipp Lienhart’s partner at the heart of the backline. The dup will accompany Stefan Posch and Philipp Mwene in the defensive quartet, with Patrick Pentz taking his usual spot between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past the energetic duo of Nicolas Seiwald and Konrad Laimer in the double pivot. The pair will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park while initiating swift transitions.
Christoph Baumgartner will reprise the no. 10 role, looking to pull the strings in the final third. Patrick Wimmer, Marcel Sabitzer, and Michael Gregoritsch should complete the numbers in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pentz; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Seiwald, Laimer; Wimmer, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Gregoritsch
Key Stats
- The Netherlands have won their two previous major tournament encounters with Austria (World Cup/Euros). The Oranje won 5-1 at the 1978 FIFA World Cup and 2-0 at UEFA Euro 2020. Austria have lost their last seven matches against the Netherlands, their longest current run of defeats against a single opponent. Their most recent victory dates back to May 1990 in a Vienna friendly (3-2).
- Since the start of the 2014 World Cup, the Netherlands have not lost any group stage game at major tournaments (World Cup/Euros), winning nine of their 11 outings (D2). They could not beat France last week while failing to score for the first time across those 11 matches.
- Following the 3-1 win over Poland, Austria can win successive games at a single major tournament (World Cup/Euros) for the first time since the 1982 World Cup (1-0 vs Chile, 2-0 vs Algeria).
- Nicolas Seiwald has recovered possession 11 times and made ten tackles in his two games at UEFA Euro 2024 thus far, both the most of any Austrian player. Despite those numbers, he is still yet to concede a foul at the tournament.
- Virgil van Dijk made eight clearances in the 0-0 draw against France on Matchday 2; the most by a Dutch player in a group stage game at the UEFA European Championship since 2008 versus Romania (13 by John Heitinga and nine by Wilfried Bouma).
Player to Watch
Jeremie Frimpong
All eyes will invariably be on Memphis Depay, Xavi Simons, and Cody Gakpo whenever the Netherlands take the field. However, we have picked Jeremie Frimpong for this section as he looks to nail down the right-wing berth in the Dutch attack.
Ronald Koeman hopes to capitalise on Frimpong’s offensive output to create a plethora of chances from the right flank. The 23-year-old can be the ideal foil for Xavi Simons while allowing Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo to express themselves freely. If the gamble works out, Koeman will have unlocked his team’s true potential in the final third.
Prediction
Netherlands 2-1 Austria
Austria will give the Netherlands a run for their money, with a shock result not out of the realms of possibility. Ralf Rangnick’s men have been one of the most impressive teams at UEFA Euro 2024 despite losing one game, where they took the game to France and barely allowed Les Bleus out of second gear.
So, it will not be surprising if Rangnick’s charges score first. However, Ronald Koeman’s decision to employ Jeremie Frimpong on the right flank will unlock a new facet in the Netherlands’ gameplay in the final third. The 23-year-old should inspire a comeback win, with the Oranje eking out a narrow 2-1 victory on Tuesday to reach the round of 16.
