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The Netherlands will be one of the dark horses that can go deep into Euro 2024 and cause major upsets. The Dutch, under Ronald Koeman, finished second behind France in the European Qualifiers.
The Oranje had a decent World Cup 2022 campaign, where they were defeated by Lionel Messi's Argentina on penalties in the quarter-finals. In their last Euro campaign, the Netherlands were defeated in the Round of 16 by the Czech Republic. This time, they will look to improve their record as the Dutch team boast a good blend of youth and experience.
Koeman has finally released the 30-man provisional list for Euro 2024. Although there are a few surprise additions and exclusions, the team's overall balance looks pretty solid. The Dutch will need their best lineup as they have landed in Group D with Robert Lewandowski's Poland, Kylian Mbappe's France, and Austria.
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Koeman will look to banish the ghosts of the World Cup's penalty shootout and win the tournament for the first time since 1988. Although Holland aren't among the favorites to win, they can certainly go a long way in the continental tournament.
Here's the strongest lineup that the Dutch could field in the tournament. The team is set, keeping the formation 3-4-2-1 in mind.
The Netherlands Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen
The Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper remains Ronald Koeman's first-choice between the sticks. Bart Verbruggen is having a good season with Brighton.
In the Seagulls' recent match against Newcastle United, he was instrumental in saving his club from the incessant Magpies attacks in the latter half of the game and securing a 1-1 draw.
Ronald Koeman will be looking for solidity in goal, especially as the Netherlands have a strong defensive lineup. Verbruggen will be tested against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmanne Dembele, and Robert Lewandowski in the group stages.
Centre-Back: Virgil van Dijk
Virgil Van Dijk will spearhead the Dutch side and will have to play a huge role if the Netherlands are to go far in Euro 2024. The Liverpool defender was instrumental in the FIFA World Cup 2022 and also played a big role in steering the Dutch towards a second-place finish in the European qualifiers.
Van Dijk is also known for his attacking prowess and his ability to be lethal with his head in set-piece situations.
In the 2023-24 Premier League season, he has been included in the Team of the Week 10 times and stands out with an impressive eight clean sheets and 4.7 interceptions per game. He will be part of the Netherlands' defense, which consists of Nathan Ake, Van Dijk, and Stefan De Vrij.
Centre-Back: Nathan Ake
Since joining Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, Nathan Ake has rediscovered himself as an attacking centre-back.
The Dutch defender has been crucial in City's title charge and has also been instrumental in handling the Dutch defensive line alongside Virgil Van Dijk in their European Qualifier campaign.
Additionally, Ake has good distribution skills and will be crucial in connecting the defense with the midfield. He has recorded a passing accuracy of 93 percent this season.
Centre-Back: Stefan de Vrij
Stefan de Vrij has been a major contributor to Inter Milan's Serie A winning season. He has given defensive solidity to the Inter backline, helping the team keep a total of 11 clean sheets with an impressive 3.4 ball recoveries per game.
De Vrij is also a good header of the ball and his partnership with Van Dijk will be crucial for Holland's goalscoring potential from set pieces.
Defensive midfielder: Frenkie De Jong
Frenkie De Jong, known for his ball progression and ability to connect the midfield to the attack, will be an important addition to the Netherlands midfield. De Jong is one of the most valuable players for Xavi at Barcelona.
The midfielder can play both as a pivot and a central midfielder, although he is at his best in the former position. He has been included five times in the Team of the Week and has played an average of 82 minutes per game.
De Jong has an expected assist rate of 4.88, averaging 94.8 touches per game.
Central midfielder: Jerdy Schouten
Jerdy Schouten is a box-to-box midfielder who connects the defense and the attack in the PSV Eindhoven lineup and will do the same for the Dutch in Euro 2024. He recently helped PSV to the Eredivisie title.
Schouten is exceptional at recovering the ball from the opposition. For PSV Eindhoven, the Netherlands midfielder has an average recovery rate of 7.2 balls per game and a passing accuracy of 90 percent.
Right midfielder: Denzel Dumfries
Denzel Dumfries provides a combination of defensive solidity and attacking prowess. The Inter Milan star is known for his ability to intercept the ball and distribute it towards the attacking channels.
Moreover, he is known for his forward runs and offers additional width to help distributors like Frenkie De Jong control the midfield. His crosses into the box will also allow poachers like Wout Weghorst to always be on the hunt for an easy goal.
Left midfielder: Daley Blind
Daley Blind is known for his versatility and potential to excel in different positions. However, the 34-year-old is best suited to play as a left midfielder who can come inside to take Frenkie De Jong's space if he goes forward to help build up an attack.
For Girona this season, Blind has maintained a 90 percent passing accuracy rate with a respectable 4.3 ball recoveries per game.
Forward: Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo is a versatile addition to the Dutch attacking lineup. The Liverpool player can play both as a left winger and a striker. His strengths include his dribbling skills and speed, helping him take shots at the right time.
The PSV academy graduate won the Dutch Footballer of the Year award in the 2021-22 season for scoring 21 goals in 47 games across competitions.
Forward: Wout Weghorst
Wout Weghorst is having an average season with Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim. The Dutch forward has scored seven times and assisted thrice in 27 games for Hoffenheim.
However, Weghorst is the man for the big occasions for the Oranje. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he was at the center of an unbelievable Dutch comeback against Argentina in the quarter-finals.
After going 2-0 down, he came on as a substitute and scored two crucial goals to equalize for the Dutch and take the match to extra time. We can surely expect such heroics from him in Euro 2024.
Forward: Xavi Simons
Xavi Simons is the speedster in front who will be crucial in executing quick counterattacks for the Netherlands, especially when facing strong outfits like France in the group stages.
In 31 matches for RB Leipzig this season, Simons has scored seven goals and created 11 more to secure his place in the Team of the Week 10 times.
The 21-year-old will be the perfect outlet for Van Dijk or Nathan Ake to release the ball when the opponent pressures the backline to turn the tide toward the Dutch.
Moreover, Simons is a slippery customer who can dribble near the penalty box and attract a foul or two in dangerous positions for the Dutch.
Other members of the squad:
Justin Bijlow, Mark Flekken, Nick Olij, Steven Bergwijn, Brian Brobbey, Memphis Depay, Jeremie Frimpong, Lutsharel Geertruida, Ryan Gravenberch, Teun Koopmeiners, Matthijs De Ligt, Ian Maatson, Donyell Malen, Tijjani Reijnders, Marten De Roon, Quinten Timber, Joey Veerman, Micky Van De Ven, Georginio Wijnaldum.
