Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how the Netherlands could line up for Tuesday’s Euro 2024 last-16 clash against Romania.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman will be expected to make an alteration in midfield for Tuesday’s Euro 2024 last-16 clash with Romania at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
The third-placed side from Group D are expected to have all of their players available for their opening knockout battle, as Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee has recovered from a recent illness.
On the back of a crushing 3-2 loss to Austria in their final group game, Koeman is expected to switch things up in all three thirds of the field, starting with the demotion of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman.
The 25-year-old’s horror show against Austria was cut short after just 35 minutes, and he could not be consoled on the bench, which is where he should find himself from the first whistle on Tuesday.
Instead, Paris Saint-Germain gem Xavi Simons should make a swift return to the XI as Oranje’s creative focal point, allowing Tijjani Reijnders to drop into a deeper position alongside Jerdy Schouten.
Simons will no doubt be supplying Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay, both of whom scored against Austria, but Donyell Malen – who scored an own goal in that affair – might make way for Jeremie Frimpong.
Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Bart Verbruggen and Stefan de Vrij are all defensive mainstays, but Lutsharel Geertruida is at risk of demotion as Denzel Dumfries eyes a return to the first XI.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Reijnders, Schouten; Frimpong, Simons, Gakpo; Depay
> Click here to see how Romania could line up for this match
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