When Belgium and the Netherlands meet in Brussels on Friday night. Both teams will be looking to get off to a good start in the UEFA Nations League.
Both teams have been drawn in League A Group 4 alongside Poland and Wales. And will play four times in the league over the following few weeks.
Match preview
In the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, Belgium won League A Group 2 to advance to the semi-finals. Where they lost 3-2 to France before losing 2-1 to Italy in the third-place playoff.
In the group stage, Roberto Martinez’s team will face the Netherlands, Poland, and Wales. And it would not be surprising to see them reach the competition’s semi-finals once more.
Belgium will play the Netherlands, Poland twice, and Wales in the coming weeks. But they will already be planning for the 2022 World Cup. Which will feature group stage matches against Canada, Morocco, and Croatia.
The Red Devils finished third at the 2018 World Cup. Losing to France in the semi-finals before beating England 2-0 in the third-place playoff four days later.
Belgium did not make a serious impression at last summer’s European Championship, though, going out in the quarter-finals of the competition to eventual winners Italy.
Holland, on the other hand, will be in Qatar, having placed first in Group G with 23 points from ten matches during a great season, and it will be interesting to see how they fare at the 2022 tournament.
The Netherlands finished second behind Italy in League A Group 1 of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, with the European champions progressing to the competition’s semi-finals.
Last November, Louis van Gaal’s side won 2-0 against Norway in their World Cup qualifying campaign. In March, they played two friendly against Denmark and Germany. Beating the former 4-2 and drawing 1-1 with the latter three days later.
The Netherlands and Belgium have drawn 1-1 in their last two friendly matches. Although they have not met in a competitive encounter since the 1998 World Cup, when they drew 0-0 in the group stage.
Team News
Belgium will be missing Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper who was man-of-the-match for Real Madrid in the Champions League final, due to a groin complaint.
Due to the absence of Jason Denayer due to an ankle injury, Dedryck Boyata might start in the middle of the defense, while Koen Casteels could start between the pipes.
Eden Hazard only returned to the team after a leg operation late in the season, but he is in the squad and might start, with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne also likely to play.
In terms of the Netherlands, Mark Flekken could be given the nod in goal, with Matthijs de Ligt and Virgil van Dijk expected to form a back three.
Jurrien Timber, who is being linked with a move to Manchester United, is also pushing for a starting spot after a successful season at Ajax.
Meanwhile, Memphis Depay is a lock to start in the final third of the field. And Wout Weghorst might join him, while Steven Bergwijn, Noa Lang, and Cody Gakpo are also viable choices.
Frenkie de Jong, who has lately stated that he wants to stay at Barcelona despite allegations of interest from Man United, will play in the midfield.
Belgium vs Netherlands Lineups
Belgium possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, Carrasco; E Hazard, Lukaku, De Bruyne
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Flekken; De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, Berghuis, Koopmeiners, F de Jong, Blind; Weghorst, Memphis
Belgium vs Netherlands prediction
Our prediction is 1-1 tie between Belgium vs Netherlands.
If a draw was offered before kickoff, both managers would certainly accept it. And we may see them splitting the points on Friday night. Belgium has the more quality, particularly in the attacking areas. But the Netherlands will be strong at the back, and we expect a stalemate.
Watch the Belgium vs Netherlands livestream match at the link below
Belgium vs Netherlands (03/06/2022) UEFA Nations League