MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 12:54:07| >> :120:59116:59116:
[monks data]
Belgium national football team
Nations League | League A
Jun 3, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
 
Netherlands national football team

Belgium
1 - 4
Netherlands

Batshuayi (90+3')
Mertens (47')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Bergwijn (40'), Depay (51', 66'), Dumfries (62')
van Dijk (89')

Preview: Belgium vs. Netherlands - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Nations League clash between Belgium and Netherlands, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Belgium and Netherlands will both be looking to make positive starts to their UEFA Nations League campaigns when they lock horns in Brussels on Friday night.

The pair have been drawn alongside Poland and Wales in League A Group 4, and both sides will play four times in the competition over the next couple of weeks.


Match preview

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez reacts on March 26, 2022© Reuters

Belgium finished top of League A Group 2 in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League to reach the semi-finals, where they lost 3-2 to France before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Italy in the third-place playoff.

This time around, Roberto Martinez's side will face Netherlands, Poland and Wales in the group stage, and it would not be a surprise to see them in the semi-finals of the competition once again.

Belgium will take on the Netherlands, Poland twice and Wales over the next couple of weeks, but they will already be thinking about the 2022 World Cup, with matches against Canada, Morocco and Croatia in the group stage.

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.

Netherlands' Steven Bergwijn celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 26, 2022© Reuters

Netherlands finished second at the 2010 World Cup before claiming third in 2014, but they failed to qualify for the 2018 competition, losing three of their 10 qualification fixtures.

Holland will be present in Qatar, though, having finished top of Group G, picking up 23 points from their 10 matches during a strong campaign, and it will be fascinating to see how they perform at the 2022 competition.

In the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, Netherlands were second behind Italy in League A Group 1, with the European champions advancing to the semi-finals of the competition.

Louis van Gaal's side finished their World Cup qualification campaign with a 2-0 victory over Norway last November before playing two friendlies against Denmark and Germany in March, beating the former 4-2 before drawing 1-1 with the latter three days later.

Netherlands have played out 1-1 draws with Belgium in their last two matches, both of which have been friendlies, but they have not met in a competitive fixture since the 1998 World Cup, drawing 0-0 in the group stage.

Belgium Nations League form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L

Belgium form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W

Netherlands Nations League form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W

Netherlands form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D


Team News

Netherlands players celebrate Memphis Depay's goal against Montenegro on November 13, 2021© Reuters

Belgium will be without the services of Thibaut Courtois, with the goalkeeper, who put in a man-of-the-match performance for Real Madrid in the Champions League final, pulling out of the squad due to a groin strain.

Jason Denayer is also missing due to an ankle issue, so Dedryck Boyata could start in the middle of the defence, while Koen Casteels might get the nod between the sticks.

Eden Hazard only recovered from a leg operation in the latter stages of the season, but the attacker is in the squad and could start, while Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne are also expected to be in the side.

As for the Netherlands, Mark Flekken could potentially be given the nod between the sticks, while a back three is likely to include Matthijs de Ligt and Virgil van Dijk.

Jurrien Timber is also pushing to start, with the defender, who is currently being strongly linked with Manchester United, enjoying an impressive campaign at Ajax.

Memphis Depay is a certain starter in the final third of the field, meanwhile, and he could be joined by Wout Weghorst, although Steven Bergwijn, Noa Lang and Cody Gakpo are also options.

There will also be a midfield role for Frenkie de Jong, who has recently said that he wants to remain at Barcelona amid reports of interest from Man United.

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


SM words green background

We say: Belgium 1-1 Netherlands

Both managers would likely accept a draw if it was offered ahead of kickoff, and we can see the pair sharing the points on Friday night. Belgium, arguably, have the superior talent, especially in the forward areas, but Netherlands will be strong at the back, and we are predicting a stalemate here.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


ID:487170:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11113:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Belgium vs Netherlands

Belgium
54.8%
Draw
26.3%
Netherlands
18.9%
334
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
England's Tyrone Mings celebrates scoring their third goal with Declan Rice, Harry Kane and teammates on March 29, 2022
Read Next:
England's possible route to World Cup glory including France, Germany, Brazil games
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!