Georgia Under-21s will be bidding to secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championship as Group A winners when they face Netherlands Under-21s on Tuesday.
Georgia are currently top of the section, two points clear of second-placed Belgium, while the Netherlands occupy third, also boasting two points from their first two matches in the tournament.
Match preview
© Reuters
The Netherlands have won the European Under-21 Championship on two previous occasions, triumphing in 2006 and 2007, while they reached the semi-finals in both 2013 and 2021.
Erwin van de Looi's side currently sit third in Group A ahead of their final match, picking up two points from their opening two games against Belgium Under-21s and Portugal Under-21s, drawing 0-0 and 1-1 respectively.
Holland fell behind to Portugal last time out, with Andre Almeida on the scoresheet in the 20th minute, but Brian Brobbey came up with a vital leveller in the 78th minute of the contest, with the points being shared.
Netherlands need to win to guarantee their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition, but they have now shared the points in each of their last four games in all competitions.
Van de Looi's team certainly boast the firepower to cause Georgia problems on Tuesday, with Brobbey and Joshua Zirkzee netting 15 times between them at this level of football.
Georgia, though, are in pole position at the top of the section, picking up four points from their opening two matches against Portugal and Belgium.
Ramaz Svanadze's side recorded a famous 2-0 victory over Portugal in their section opener, with Giorgi Gagua and Saba Sazonov on the scoresheet.
The Crusaders then came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Belgium on Saturday, with Heorhiy Tsitaishvili and Giorgi Guliashvili registering to secure a share of the spoils.
Georgia will definitely be through to the quarter-finals of the competition if they avoid defeat on Tuesday, while they could lose and still progress to the next stage if Belgium drop points against Portugal.
Team News
Netherlands head coach Van de Looi is likely to introduce Zirkzee into his starting side on Tuesday, with the Bologna attacker potentially featuring in a wide position.
Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch is arguably the standout player in their XI, and the 21-year-old will again feature in central midfield, with Kenneth Taylor and Quinten Timber also set to start.
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp has scored seven goals at Under-21 level and will again feature in a wide position, while Brighton & Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke should play in central defence.
Georgia, meanwhile, have not reported any injury concerns from their draw with Belgium, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this match.
There is likely to be a change in the final third of the field, though, with Tsitaishvili's goal and performance off the bench on Saturday expected to earn him a spot in the side.
Gagua, who plays his club football for Real Union in Spain, should again lead the line despite the presence of Guilashvili, who has eight goals at this level of football.
Netherlands Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Rensch, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Hartman; Timber, Gravenberch; Ekkelenkamp, Taylor, Zirkzee; Brobbey
Georgia Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Sazonov, Gelashvili, Kalandadze; Khvadagiani, Mekvabishvili, Gagnidze, Azarov; Davitashvili, Gagua, Tsitaishvili
We say: Netherlands Under-21s 2-1 Georgia Under-21s
Netherlands would be through to the next round if they beat Georgia on Tuesday, and we are backing Van de Looi's side to edge a close match. Georgia could lose and still advance to the knockout stage, although they would be relying on Portugal preventing Belgium from triumphing in the section's other match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Spain U21s
