Belgium and Netherlands clash against each other to exert early dominance in Group D. Both are wishing to get full points after Poland beat Wales 2-1 in their group opener.
All of the nations will have to play four games in a tightly packed opening month of the 2022/23 Nations league season. Both sides have also not lost a game this year.
BEL vs NED UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Details
Date: Friday, 3rd June 2022/ Saturday, 4th June 2022
Time: 20:45 (CEST)/ 00:15 (IST)
Venue: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
BEL vs NED UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Preview
Roberto Martinez’s men feel this is the last period they will get to hand the golden generation of Belgian football a trophy after losing to France in the semifinals of the Nations League last time out. The Red Devils led that game 2-0 at half-time but fell victim to a stunning comeback by the world champions in the second half. Adding this to the quarterfinal exit to Euro winners Italy earlier made 2021 another year to forget for the number one ranked nation, overtaken by Brazil now. Although, their qualification journey to the World Cup has been clinical with no games lost. The group filled with world-class superstars from their club is losing time now to keep their status in international football. The World Cup in Qatar is Belgium’s only hope so they need to make this Nations League campaign a success for an ideal preparation come November. Belgium faces Netherlands, Poland twice and Wales to wrap up the opening month of the tournament which is congested and demanding. It is now or never for the Red Devils if they are to place their names with the powerhouses that have gone on to taste success on big stages.
Contrary to Belgium, Netherlands are on the verge to go back to their past glories. After failing to qualify for two major tournaments since the 2014 World Cup the Dutch have eventually made strides. Although their campaign in last summer’s Euros left a bad taste under then-manager Frank de Boer, his predecessor Ronald Koeman and successor Louis van Gaal have made them flourish. Van Gaal broke his retirement to return for his third tenure with the national side and will be replaced by Koeman again due to health issues after the conclusion of the World Cup this year. Now 70, Van Gaal successfully made Netherland’s World Cup return a success with the team yet to lose under him since he took over after the Euros. In the ten games so far, Netherlands have only dropped points thrice. The Nations League will be his first major tournament with the Dutch in his third spell. The 2019 finalist ended as runners up behind Italy in last season’s tournament. Hence, the Netherlands wants to use their positive run to greater effect starting against the group rivals Belgium. Poland and then Wales to play twice once they get over this hurdle.
Recent Form
Belgium: WDDWL
Netherlands: DWWDW
BEL vs NED UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Team News
Roberto Martinez’s side are without the services of Thibaut Courtois as he sustained a groin strain after a man of the match performance in the Champions League winning final. Simon Mignolet could start in between the sticks. Jason Denayer with his ankle issue and Leonardo Trossard recovering from a knock are doubts for the game.
There are no issues in the Netherlands camp. Memphis Depay and Virgil Van Dijk seem to question their manager Louis van Gaal’s decision to leave out Georginio Wijnaldum from the Nations League squad on the back of an underwhelming season with PSG which the boss defended strongly. It won’t jeopardize the pair’s place in the starting eleven though.
BEL vs NED UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Expected Lineups
Belgium: Simon Mignolet; Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Yannick Carrasco; Eden Hazard, De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku
Netherlands: Mark Flekken; De Ligt, Van Dijk, Nathan Ake; Denzel Dumfries, Steven Berghuis, Teun Koopmeiners, F de Jong, Daley Blind; Wout Weghorst, Memphis Depay
BEL vs NED UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Head to Head
Belgium and the Netherlands have been involved with a few friendlies recently. This will be their first competitive outing since the 1998 World Cup group stage which ended in a 0-0 draw. Draws have been common outcomes between the pair in recent memories as in the last two and a mouthwatering 5-5 result in 1999 in a friendly.
BEL vs NED UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Mignolet (8.5)
DEF: Dumfries (8.5), Alderweireld (8.5), Van Dijk (9), Blind (8.5)
MID: Berghuis (9), De Bruyne (10), De Jong (9.5), Carrasco (8.5)
FW: Lukaku (9.5), Depay (10)
Captain: De Bruyne
Vice-captain: Memphis Depay
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