Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Following a 1-1 draw between the two nations in October, the victor of the Amsterdam battle - if there is one - will guarantee a place in the quarter-finals alongside already-qualified Germany.
Match preview
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A 5-2 demolition of Bosnia-Herzegovina on the opening matchday was not a sign of things to come for the Netherlands, who have failed to win any of their last three games in the Nations League but still have their fate in their own hands before November's double-header.
Following back-to-back stalemates with Germany and upcoming foes Hungary, Ronald Koeman's men succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to the former in their most recent Group 3 showdown, where a 64th-minute strike from Mannschaft debutant Jamie Leweling proved decisive.
In spite of their mediocre set of results thus far, the Netherlands' tally of five points from a possible 12 is currently good enough for second place in the rankings; they lead Hungary on goal difference, but head-to-head results take precedence when it comes to separating tied teams.
With Bosnia-Herzegovina four points adrift of both sides at the bottom, the Netherlands will be assured of a knockout place if they overcome Hungary on Saturday, but defeat would extinguish their top-two chances and leave them at risk of demotion to League B.
However, Koeman's men could make their meeting with Bosnia on November 19 trivial should they conquer the Hungarians on Saturday, and they have only ever failed to score in one of their Nations League home games, a 1-0 loss to Italy in 2020.
© Imago
The permutations are exactly the same for Saturday's visitors Hungary, even though Marco Rossi's men currently sit third on account of an inferior goal difference, as it is also win or bust for the Magyars as far as quarter-final qualification is concerned.
Sharing the Netherlands' record of one win, two draws and one defeat from their four encounters so far, albeit in reverse order, Hungary were crushed 5-0 by Germany in their League A opener but have managed to avoid losing in each of their last three battles.
Last month's respectable 1-1 draw with the Dutch preceded a 2-0 success over lowly Bosnia-Herzegovina, where two efforts from Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai either side of the half-time whistle propelled Rossi's side right back into quarter-final contention.
Reaching the quarter-finals would be the latest Nations League zenith for a country who started out in the doldrums of League C during the inaugural 2018-19 tournament, and they have previous when it comes to shock away wins in the competition, memorably thumping England 4-0 and defeating Germany 1-0 on the road in 2022.
October's two-goal stalemate with the Netherlands also ended a miserable nine-game losing streak for Hungary against the 2010 World Cup runners-up, but they have not overcome Saturday's hosts since 1984, where a Dutch side comprising Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard were stunned in a World Cup qualifier.
Team News
© Imago
The Netherlands' defence has been hit hard ahead of November's Nations League finale, as none of Micky van de Ven, Nathan Ake, Lutsharel Geertruida or Ian Maatsen are available to Koeman this month, but Arsenal's Jurrien Timber has returned after missing last month's matches.
Oranje were also handed yet another scare over injury-riddled Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong at the weekend, as he came off at half time in their La Liga loss to Real Sociedad, but he was only suffering from a knock to the shin rather than another ankle setback.
De Jong should therefore be given the thumbs-up to play for his country on Saturday, potentially as part of a two-man midfield with revitalised Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch, but RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons is unavailable due to ankle surgery.
Regarding Hungary's availability, the most experienced defender in Rossi's selection - 61-cap Attila Fiola - misses out through suspension due to an accumulation of bookings, so Marton Dardai ought to come into the visitors' back three.
A 50th senior appearance for the national team awaits Szoboszlai, who is having to work hard for Liverpool starts over Curtis Jones nowadays but is guaranteed to occupy one of the two number 10 roles on Saturday.
Roland Sallai - who shares Szoboszlai's tally of 14 goals for the national team - should also be providing support to the central striker, likely to be Ferencvaros hotshot Barnabas Varga.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Hato; De Jong, Gravenberch; Malen, Reijnders, Gakpo; Weghorst
Hungary possible starting lineup:
Dibusz; Dardai, Orban, Botka; Bolla, Nikitscher, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga
We say: Netherlands 1-0 Hungary
Saturday's intriguing battle ought to be as close as the standings suggest it will be, especially as the Netherlands are missing a chief creator in Simons who can unlock the most rigid of defences.
Hungary's best hope will surely be to hit Koeman's men on the counter, but the Dutch should break through the rearguard-heavy Magyars at least once before shutting up shop to nab a coveted quarter-final place.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
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