After their win over Belarus, Netherlands now face Germany in their second European Championship qualifier. Kick-off in Amsterdam is 7.45pm on Sunday.
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Ronald Koeman’s side made a perfect start to the qualifiers on Thursday with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Belarus. However, they will face a much tougher test on Sunday when Germany return to Amsterdam looking for revenge.
In October, Netherlands humiliated their rivals in a 3-0 victory during the Nations League campaign which also saw Oranje snatch a 2-2 draw in Germany.
“But if you put the
There is plenty of pressure on German boss Joachim Löw’s shoulders after the poor World Cup performance and the Nations League relegation.
He has also come under criticism for dropping the experienced trio Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng as Low looks to begin a new generation of the national team.
Koeman sees parallels to the job he had when he took charge of
A 1-1 draw against Serbia in midweek did little to appease Germany’s fans and a loss in Netherlands would increase calls for Low’s sacking.
Team News
Atalanta right-back Hans Hateboer was called into the squad to replace the injured Kenny Tete. However, Koeman is set to name the same eleven that won against Belarus with Denzel Dumfries fit to start.
Probable Netherlands XI: Cillessen, Dumfries, Blind, Van Dijk, De Ligt, F.De Jong, De Roon, Wijnaldum, Babel, Bergwijn, Memphis
Low has confirmed that Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos will start the game, while Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry are fit to start. They will be without Lukas Klostermann through injury.
Possible Germany XI: Neuer; Kehrer, Rudiger, Sule, Schulz; Kimmich, Kroos; Gnabry, Reus, Sane; Werner
Odds
Due to the victory in the UEFA Nations League, Netherlands go into the game as slight favourites at 7/5. Germany are 17/10 while a draw is 13/5.
Previous Meetings
In October, Netherlands beat Germany 3-0 thanks to goals from Memphis Depay, Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum. A month later late goals from Quincy Promes and van Dijk earned Oranje a 2-2 draw in Gelsenkirchen.
Germany still hold the overall advantage over Netherlands having won 15 out of 42 matches compared to Oranje’s 11.
However, Germany’s last win in the Netherlands was back in 1996.
Johan Cruijff tribute
Sunday is exactly three years to the day that Johan Cruijff passed away and there will be a tribute to the Netherlands legend before the clash with Germany. Images of Cruijff’s career will be shown in the stadium before the game kicks off.
Can Netherlands beat Germany again?
All the pressure going into the game is on the German national team with their under-fire coach and they will be determined to get a result in Amsterdam.
Netherlands let Belarus create chances on Thursday which weren’t taken and need to be more defensively secure on Sunday. If Dumfries and Blind can keep Sane and Reus quiet then Netherlands definitely has a chance of another success against their old rival.
A draw would not be a terrible result for Netherlands either with easier matches to come later in the year.
Podcast
This is the game the Young Dutch can show thier mettle as secretly a lot of people in the Netherlands worry about this match- ‘can they possibly do it again, Germany’s good, they are out for revenge, the coach, thier last game…’
I hope the Orange dispel that all this match.