Netherlands final game of 2015 will see the Oranje take on rivals and World Cup winners Germany in Hannover.

robb dostThe build up to the game on Tuesday has been overshadowed by the horrific events in Paris last Friday, with the German side playing France in the Stade de France that night. There were some calls for the game against Netherlands to be cancelled, but German boss Joachim Low wants it to go ahead as a symbol of solidarity.

Low told his press conference, “The first thought was whether it would be play so soon after in this state of shock and fear. The next day we all agreed that the best thing would be to play and set an example. Everyone shares the opinion that the game will be a positive symbol.”

Netherlands coach Danny Blind also called on the two nations to put their rivalry behind them and put on a show of support to France.

Blind said, “I’m probably not the first to say it, but I think we can make a gesture by playing this game. Firstly, it is a gesture to the victims and survivors. To the French people. But it is also a signal in the context of freedom, democracy and solidarity. Sport is a unifying force and we have to use it. ”

The Oranje warmed up for the tie with a 3-2 win over Wales on Friday, which saw Blind use the 5-3-2 formation which worked perfectly under Louis van Gaal. However the coach was less than impressed with his side’s defending during the game, and he will be hoping that improves against the World Champions.

Germany lost the friendly against France 2-0, and will be looking for their first friendly win at home since a 6-1 win over Armenia in June 2014.

Team News

Netherlands will be without captain Arjen Robben after an agreement with Bayern Munich, while Eljero Elia, Riechedly Bazoer and Virgil van Dijk have all been forced out through minor injuries. Blind has only decided to call-up PSV Eindhoven attacker Jurgen Locadia for the tie, and the 22-year-old will be hoping to earn his first cap, along with Feyenoord’s Marko Vejinovic.

Possible Netherlands line-up (5-3-2): Cillessen; Janmaat, Bruma, Veltman, Blind, Kongolo; Clasie, Sneijder; Promes; Depay, Dost

Germany have also been hit by a number of squad withdrawals with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lucas Podolski, Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng and Jonas Hector pulling out, while Leroy Sane has joined the U21 squad for a Euro qualifier. This leaves Low with only 18 players to choose from for the tie on Tuesday, but he still has the likes of Julian Draxler, Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels at his disposal.

Possible Germany line-up: Trapp, Rudiger, Ginter, Hummels, Mustafi, Gundogan, Khedira, Can, Muller, Schurrle, Gomez

Head to Head

Germany v Netherlands is one of the most fierce rivalry’s in European football. The nations have met on 45 occasions (14 occasions as West Germany) with the Dutch winning only ten of those games, and losing fifteen.

There has been a number of magnificent games between the two over the years but the 1974 World Cup final, in which West Germany triumphed 2-1 over Cruyff’s total Voetbal side, is the most famous, while who could forget Rikaard v Voller in the 1990 World Cup.

The most recent ties have gone Germany’s way, with Netherlands last beating their rival’s in 2002, while the last tie was a 0-0 draw in a 2012 friendly.




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