One of the underdogs that can compete fiercely in Euro 2024 and cause significant upsets is the Netherlands. In the European Qualifiers, the Dutch, led by Ronald Koeman, came in second place behind France.
The World Cup 2022 Run and 30-Man Euro 2024 Squad
The Netherlands had a respectable World Cup 2022 campaign, losing to Lionel Messi‘s Argentina in the quarterfinals on penalties. The Netherlands lost to the Czech Republic in the Round of 16 of their most recent European campaign. The Dutch team has a strong mix of youth and experience, so they will want to better their record this time.
At last, Koeman has made public the 30-man tentative roster for Euro 2024. Despite a few unexpected inclusions and departures, the team appears to have a fairly balanced roster overall.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Justin Bijlow | Feyenoord |
| Mark Flekken | Brentford |
| Nick Olij | Sparta Rotterdam |
| Bart Verbruggen | Brighton |
| Nathan Ake | Manchester City |
| Daley Blind | Girona |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Bayern Munich |
| Stefan de Vrij | Inter |
| Denzel Dumfries | Inter |
| Jeremie Frimpong | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Lutsharel Geertruida | Feyenoord |
| Ian Maatsen | Borussia Dortmund |
| Micky van de Ven | Tottenham |
| Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool |
| Frenkie de Jong | Barcelona |
| Marten de Roon | Atalanta |
| Ryan Gravenberch | Liverpool |
| Teun Koopmeiners | Atalanta |
| Tijjani Reijnders | AC Milan |
| Jerdy Schouten | PSV |
| Quinten Timber | Feyenoord |
| Georginio Wijnaldum | Al-Ettifaq |
| Steven Bergwijn | Ajax |
| Brian Brobbey | Ajax |
| Memphis Depay | Atletico Madrid |
| Cody Gakpo | Liverpool |
| Donyell Malen | Borussia Dortmund |
| Xavi Simons | RB Leipzig |
| Wout Weghorst | Hoffenheim |
Strongest Possible Starting XI for Netherlands in EURO 2024
The Netherlands are in Group D with Kylian Mbappe’s France, Robert Lewandowski‘s Poland, and Austria, so they will need to field their strongest lineup.
In an attempt to win the World Cup for the first time since 1988, Koeman will try to drive out the ghosts of the penalty shootout. Holland can definitely make a lot of progress in the continental tournament, even though they aren’t among the favourites to win.
This is the Dutch team that has the best lineup possible for the event. The squad is assembled, bearing in mind the 3-4-2-1 formation.
Goalkeeper
Bart Verbruggen
Ronald Koeman’s first option in goalkeepers is still Brighton & Hove Albion’s keeper. With Brighton, Bart Verbruggen is enjoying a successful season.
He played a crucial role in the Seagulls’ most recent game against Newcastle United, helping them to escape the relentless Magpies’ assaults in the second half and force a 1-1 draw.
Ronald Koeman will be searching for consistency in the goal, particularly given the Netherlands’ formidable defensive group. In the group stages, Verbruggen will be put to the test against players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmanne Dembele, and Robert Lewandowski.
Defenders
Centre-Back: Virgil van Dijk
Leading the Dutch team and a key player if the country hopes to advance far in Euro 2024 is Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool star was crucial to both the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Dutch team’s second-place performance in the FIFA World Cup qualifying round.
Van Dijk is also renowned for his attacking skills and his capacity to be extremely lethal with his head in set-piece scenarios.
He has been named to the Team of the Week ten times in the 2023–24 Premier League season, and he excels with an astounding eight clean sheets and 47 interceptions per game. He will be part of the Dutch defence, which is made up of Stefan, van Dijk, and Nathan Ake.
Centre-Back: Nathan Ake
Nathan Ake has come to terms with his ability to play centre defence after joining Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.
Alongside Virgi van Dijk the Dutch defender has played a pivotal role in City’s title challenge and in managing the Dutch defensive line during their European Qualification campaign.
Furthermore, Ake is a good distributor who will play a key role in connecting the defence and the midfield. This season, he has had a 93 percent passing accuracy.
Centre-Back: Stefan de Vrij
Stefan de Vrij played a significant role in Inter Milan’s successful Serie A campaign. With an incredible 3.4 ball recoveries per game, he has provided defensive stability to the Inter backline, enabling the squad to maintain a total of 11 clean sheets.
Along with being a strong ball-header, De Vrij and Van Dijk’s relationship will be essential to Holland’s ability to score goals from set pieces.
Midfielder
Defensive Midfielder: Frenkie De Jong
The Netherlands midfield will benefit greatly if Frenkie De Jong fully recovered. He is renowned for his ball movement and ability to link the midfield to the attack. De Jong is among FC Barcelona‘s most important players for Xavi.
The midfielder is most effective while playing as a pivot, but he can also play as a central midfielder. He has averaged 82 minutes per game and has been named to the Team of the Week five times. Jong averages 94.8 touches per game and has a projected assist rate of 4.88.
Central Midfielder: Jerdy Schouten
In the PSV Eindhoven lineup, Jerdy Schouten is a box-to-box midfielder who links the attack and defence. He will do the same for the Netherlands at Euro 2024. He recently assisted PSV in winning the Eredivisie.
When it comes to winning back the ball from the opposition, Schouten is unmatched. The Netherlands midfielder averages 7.2 balls recovered per game and 90 percent passing accuracy for PSV Eindhoven.
Right Midfielder: Denzel Dumfries
Denzel Dumfries offers a blend of attacking skill and defensive resiliency. The Inter Milan player is renowned for his skill at intercepting passes and directing them into the attacking lanes.
In addition, he is famous for his forward runs and provides extra width to aid in the midfield control of distributors like Frenkie De Jong. Poachers like Wout Weghorst will be able to continue searching for an easy goal as a result of his crosses into the box.
Left Midfielder: Daley Blind
Daley Blind is renowned for his adaptability and capacity to succeed in a variety of roles. Frenkie De Jong can go forward to assist build up an attack, but the 34-year-old is most suited to play as a left midfielder who can come inside to take his space.
Blind has kept up a 90 percent passing accuracy percentage and a good 4.3 ball recoveries per game for Girona this season.
Forward
Forward: Cody Gakpo
The acquisition of Cody Gakpo to the Dutch attacking squad is a versatile move. The Liverpool player is capable of playing as a striker as well as a left winger. His quickness and dribbling prowess enable him to take shots when the opportunity arises.
The PSV academy alumnus, who scored 21 goals in 47 games across competitions in 2021–22, was named the Dutch Footballer of the Year.
Forward: Wout Weghorst
Wout Weghorst’s season with TSG Hoffenheim of the Bundesliga is mediocre. With Hoffenheim, the Dutch forward has made 27 appearances and contributed three assists.
Weghorst, though, is the Oranje’s man for the big moments. He played a key role in the incredible Dutch comeback against Argentina in the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
He entered the game as a substitute after the Dutch were behind 2-0 and scored two vital goals to tie the score and send the game into extra time. He will undoubtedly perform such feats during Euro 2024.
Forward: Xavi Simons
The speedster in front, Xavi Simons, will be essential to the Netherlands’ ability to mount swift counterattacks, particularly when they face formidable teams like France during the group stages.
Simons has scored seven goals and assisted on eleven more in 31 games for RB Leipzig this season, earning him a spot in the Team of the Week 10 ten times. When the opposition puts pressure on the backline to swing the tide in favour of the Netherlands, the 21-year-old will be the ideal outlet for Van Dijk or Nathan Ake to unleash the ball.
In addition, Simons is a slick player who can dribble close to the penalty area and put the opposition in danger of drawing a foul or two.
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