Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how the Netherlands could line up for Saturday’s UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday’s all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam.
The 27-year-old came off at half time in his side’s 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad in La Liga at the weekend, although he only suffered a kick to the shin rather than anything more sinister.
De Jong has joined up with the national team and has expressed optimism about his chances of featuring on Saturday, where Ronald Koeman‘s men will guarantee a quarter-final place with a win.
However, Xavi Simons is missing on account of an ankle operation, while defensive quartet Lutsharel Geertruida, Micky van de Ven, Nathan Ake and Ian Maatsen are all missing out too.
Koeman can still put out a mean-looking central pairing of Stefan de Vrij and Virgil van Dijk in front of Bart Verbruggen, though, while Denzel Dumfries and Jorrel Hato – keeping Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber at bay – should start out wide.
If De Jong is fit enough, the Barcelona man is the most obvious choice to link arms with Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot, and Koeman should select AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders to operate further forward.
With Simons unavailable, Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo are primed to start on the flanks, but Koeman is facing a tricky dilemma over who gets the nod up front, as none of Brian Brobbey, Wout Weghorst or Joshua Zirkzee have pulled up trees domestically this season.
Brobbey got the nod for the defeat to Germany last time out, but Koeman may side with the physically imposing Weghorst from the off this time around.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Hato; De Jong, Gravenberch; Malen, Reijnders, Gakpo; Weghorst
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