The Netherlands will kick-start their UEFA Nations League campaign when they welcome Bosnia & Herzegovina to the Philips Stadion on Saturday.
The UEFA Nations League has witnessed some memorable moments already, including record-breaking moments, first-ever wins, and comeback victories. The Netherlands will start another campaign with the objective of ending their long trophy drought when they host Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Philips Stadion on Saturday.
The Netherlands were impressive this past summer as they reached the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals after slowly getting into their groove. The Oranje might have felt the better team lost when England beat them 2-1 in July. Nevertheless, the European Championship campaign was emblematic of Ronald Koeman’s second stint as the head coach, as it offered many positives and negatives.
As for Bosnia & Herzegovina, they secured promotion from League B after finishing atop Group 3 ahead of Finland, Montenegro, and Romania. However, the Dragons have been on a crippling losing run for nearly 12 months and did not participate in UEFA Euro 2024 after failing to qualify for the quadrennial event.
The Netherlands cruised to a 3-1 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the most recent clash featuring the two teams, with Georginio Wijnaldum scoring a match-winning brace. 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 has seen two players withdraw from the squad ahead of his side’s latest fixture. In addition, the Netherlands’ head coach has made a few changes to the group he picked for UEFA Euro 2024.
Micky van de Ven (knock) and Joey Veerman (foot) have pulled out due to their respective injuries. Jan Paul van Hecke and Justin Kluivert have replaced the duo, with the former earning his first call-up to the national squad. Meanwhile, Daley Blind has called time on his international career.
Justin Bijlow, Jordan Teze, Ian Maatsen, Stefan de Vrij, Mats Wieffer, Kenneth Taylor, Teun Koopmeiners, Noa Lang, and Crysencio Summerville were in the preliminary squad but did not find a spot in the final group. Meanwhile, Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum have missed out, while Steven Bergwijn will not play again for the Netherlands until Koeman is the head coach.
Bart Verbruggen is an automatic pick between the sticks, with the Netherlands lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Bosnia & Herzegovina. The backline should feature Denzel Dumfries, Jurrien Timber, Virgil van Dijk, and Nathan Ake.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Jerdy Schouten and the resurgent Ryan Gravenberch. Xavi Simons will reprise the no. 10 role, with Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo being the two wide attackers. Finally, Brian Brobbey should lead the line for the Oranje in Depay’s absence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, Timber, van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Gravenberch; Malen, Simons, Gakpo; Brobbey
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Like his counterpart in the Dutch dugout, Sergej Barbarez has seen two players pull out from the squad ahead of the trip to the Philips Stadion. In addition, he has dropped some from the most recent group he picked in June.
Anel Ahmedhodzic (knock) and Sead Kolasinac (hamstring) have withdrawn due to their respective fitness issues. In addition, Ibrahim Sehic and Stjepan Loncar have called time on their international careers, while Emir Karic, Nail Omerovic, Tarik Muharemovic, and Madzid Socic miss out.
Kenan Piric will get the nod between the sticks, with Bosnia & Herzegovina lining up in a 5-4-1 formation in front of him against the Netherlands. The backline should feature Amar Dedic, Stjepan Radeljic, Nikola Katic, Ermin Bicakcic, and Jusuf Gazibegovic, who will start as a makeshift left-back in Kolasinac’s absence.
As for the midfield unit, Rade Krunic and Benjamin Tahirovic should pair up in the central areas, looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Armin Gigovic and Haris Hajradinovic will be the two wide midfielders, while Dzeko will spearhead the Bosnian attack against the Netherlands.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Piric; Dedic, Radeljic, Katic, Bicakcic, Gazibegovic; Gigovic, Krunic, Tahirovic, Hajradinovic; Dzeko
Key Stats
- The Netherlands and Bosnia & Herzegovina have only clashed twice, with both meetings taking place in the group stage of the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. The Oranje have an unbeaten record in these games, recording a home win, while the reverse fixture ended in a draw.
- The Netherlands have scored at least two goals in nine of their last ten games in the UEFA Nations League.
- Bosnia & Herzegovina have registered just one win in away games in the UEFA Nations League. In addition, the Dragons are winless in their last seven matches on the road in the competition. However, they have suffered only one loss in their six most recent games in the Nations League.
- The Netherlands have won their last four home games in all competitions while keeping clean sheets.
- Bosnia & Herzegovina have seen conclusive results in their eight most recent away games in all competitions, suffering seven losses while failing to score in five games. However, they are on a six-game winless run heading into Saturday’s match.
Player to Watch
Cody Gakpo
The Dutch squad has a few notable omissions, none more so than Memphis Depay. So, Cody Gakpo will have the onus on him to deliver the goods and continue his exceptional form from the UEFA Euro 2024 campaign.
The 25-year-old was one of the best players at UEFA Euro 2024 and was unfortunate to miss out on a spot in the Team of the Tournament. The Liverpool attacker has become a talismanic figure for the Netherlands and will look to deliver the goods against Bosnia & Herzegovina this weekend.
Prediction
Netherlands 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina
The Netherlands slowly got into their groove at UEFA Euro 2024 but did not blow their opponents away in any game apart from the clash in the round of 16 against Romania. On the other hand, Bosnia & Herzegovina have struggled for goals and wins in the last 12 months.
While the Dragons were impressive in the most recent edition of the UEFA Nations League, they do not have the quality to usurp the Netherlands this weekend. On the other hand, Cody Gakpo should continue his form from UEFA Euro 2024 and deliver the three points for the home side. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 victory for Ronald Koeman and his charges.
