The Dutch national team continues the World Cup qualification tonight with a game against Montenegro. The duel in the Philips Stadium (8:45 p.m.) must be converted into a win to keep an eye on direct qualification for the final round in Qatar. Louis van Gaal already revealed a number of basic players on Friday, making the probable line-up easy to fill in.
Van Gaal started his third term as national coach of the Dutch this week. His start could have been better, as the visit to Norway ended with a 1-1 draw. Afterwards there was criticism of the result, the playing style and the individual performances of various players. Daley Blind and Memphis Depay, among others, did not make a strong impression, while Steven Berghuis was already substituted in the break. The former will not be in action tonight anyway. Blind quickly ran into a yellow card against Norway, as a result of which he is suspended for the meeting with Montenegro. Georginio Wijnaldum, Davy Klaassen, Donyell Malen and Ryan Gravenberch have to be careful tonight, as they are on edge and are therefore suspended against Turkey if they receive a yellow card.
The national coach was in a good mood during the press conference on Friday afternoon. He not only gave up part of the line-up, he also spoke out about the duel with Montenegro. Van Gaal said he expects a similar match as against Norway. That means he expects Montenegro to play defensively and in a compact manner. “I think Montenegro has creative, smart and smart players. That makes it difficult. They will play like Norway. We trained for that,” said the national coach. “I think they give away more spaces than Norway, but they do play against the Netherlands. That is challenging to this game, and keep it up for 90 minutes.”
It is thanks to Montenegro that the the Dutch still has direct qualification for the World Cup in their own hands. Last Wednesday, leaders Turkey seemed well on their way to a 2-1 victory. However, in the seventh minute of injury time, FCSB defender Risto Radunovic scored the equalizer, which meant that the damage for the the Dutch was not too bad. However, it also makes Montenegro a direct competitor. Because just like the Netherlands, the team of national coach Miodrag Radulovic has collected seven points from four matches and is also only one point behind leaders Turkey. Montenegro recorded victories over Latvia (1-2) and Gibraltar (4-1), while losing to Norway (0-1) to draw against Turkey.
According to Van Gaal, it will have to be better to win against Montenegro. During the confrontation with Norway, the trainer saw many points for improvement. “It’s about having the courage to play football, but that you use the right ball speed. There was so much loss of ball against Norway, so you get dangerous counters. We actually did a good job defensively. One goal, once the post and once Justin Bijlow stayed well. That was Erling Haaland,” said Van Gaal during the press moment on Friday. The wingers will have to fulfill their role differently. “I hope they stay on the outside longer and then go in at the right time. That is so important,” emphasized the national coach.
Probable arrangement
Bijlow gained the confidence of Van Gaal on Wednesday. The Feyenoord keeper left a good impression in his first game for the Dutch national team. The trainer called the goal ‘lucky’ and saw Bijlow make a number of good saves. He can call himself the first keeper of the Dutch for the time being and will be under the bar tonight. At right back, Jurriën Timber is replaced by Denzel Dumfries. Van Gaal was not satisfied with the way the Ajax defender fulfilled his role, he said on Friday. Dumfries is his replacement tonight, Van Gaal revealed: “You can already fill that in.”
Another name that Van Gaal gave away is Stefan de Vrij. The national coach already handed out a big compliment to the Internazionale defender last Wednesday for his performance against Norway. He appeared on the side of Van Gaal at the press conference on Friday and it was already clear that he would start. That was then confirmed by the elector: “Stefan is on the right against Montenegro in the center, you will see who plays on the left.” Whether captain Virgil van Dijk can come into action against Montenegro, or whether Matthijs de Ligt will be chosen, Van Gaal left in the middle.
Since Van Dijk may not be able to play three games in a row after his serious injury and Turkey is a tougher opponent on paper than Montenegro, it is not inconceivable that the Liverpool defender will be spared tonight. “I think he can play those two games. But we also have to take rehabilitation into account,” said Van Gaal. De Ligt is available again after his suspension and is expected to play left in the center. Van Gaal mentioned that suggestion. in conversation with the NOS ‘very well thought’. With Blind’s suspension, Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia seems to be getting ready for his basic debut at the left-back position according to the General Newspaper.
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The suspected line-up of the Dutch national team.
No changes are expected in midfield. Davy Klaassen, who was important for the the Dutch with a goal against Norway, will form the midfield together with Frenkie de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum. Berghuis will get a new chance at the right winger position, Van Gaal revealed. “I have spoken to him again. And I have indicated what he might be able to do better and what he should not,” said Van Gaal about the right winger of Ajax. “I also indicated that the way Timber filled in the right-back position didn’t help him. So I’m giving him another chance. Hey, now I say too much. That line-up is known again, jesusmina,” said Van Gaal with a wink. “In my eyes he is the best right striker on the Dutch and foreign fields.”
On the left, Cody Gakpo is regaining confidence, it is expected, despite making a mistake in Haaland’s goal by not closing in quickly enough. “Someone (Gakpo, ed.) has made a big mistake with that goal against. That’s what I told and showed, we’re big boys. He reacted maturely,” responded Van Gaal, who seems to choose Memphis Depay again in the striker position. Steven Bergwijn, Donyell Malen and Wout Weghorst must therefore hope for a substitute.
Probable position the Dutch: Bijlow; Dumfries, De Vrij, De Ligt, Malacia; Klaassen, De Jong, Wijnaldum; Berghuis, Depay, Gakpo.