Netherlands vs Italy
UEFA Nations League
Date: Monday, 7 September 2020
Kick-off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena (Amsterdam)
Match preview
The Netherlands reached the final of the UEFA 2018-19 League of Nations, losing 1-0 to Portugal, with a second-half strike Goncalo Guedes is provided to be the difference between the two sides.
Holland will be keen to make another impression in the latest edition of the tournament, and they are in a good position ahead of this match, a 1-0 win over Poland on Friday night.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Steven Bergwijn scored the only goal of the match in the second period, handed the Oranje victory in their first match under the leadership Lodeweges, who has been temporarily replaced Ronald Koeman at the helm.
Securing three points against Italy on Monday will leave them in front of a very good place of their next two games on the go to Bosnia and Italy in October.
Italy, meanwhile, were held 1-1 by a tough Bosnia on Friday night, with Stefano Sensi equate to Roberto Mancini's side after Edin Dzeko had made a breakthrough.
Italy struggled to impress in the inaugural UEFA League of Nations, finishing second behind eventual winners Portugal in their group, have only won one of their four games.
Mancini's side stormed through their qualifying group of Euro 2020, though, winning all 10 of their matches, scoring 37 times and conceding just four during the campaign very well.
Azzurri actually been on the run 11-game winner entered the clash with Bosnia, but they were not able to make it 12 in a row, which has increased the importance of a positive result in this game.
Italy has the head-to-head ahead of the Netherlands, recorded 10 wins from their previous 21 meetings in all competitions, suffering only three defeats in the process.
Team News
Netherlands
Dwight Lodeweges have chosen to retain almost all the major players rely Ronald Koeman during his time as head coach of the Netherlands. The only thing missing was forced negligence in Daley Blind, Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick van Aanholt. Meanwhile, Stefan de Vrij drops out due to injury.
Absence de Vrij and de Ligt means Joel Veltman will pair up with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Dutch defense once again. Nathan Ake and Hans Hateboer should continue as a full-back pairing, with Jasper Cillessen choose automatic goal.
In front of the midfield, Manchester United's new players Donny van de Beek will be in contention to start. However, Maarten de Roon could get the nod over it again, with Frenkie de Jong sat with him in the middle of the park, while Georginio Wijnaldum will take a more advanced position on the pitch.
Key people to the Netherlands, though, will always be Memphis Depay once again. Depay will start on the left side of the Dutch attack, with Steven Bergwijn, scorer in the previous game, take the right-wing slot. Finally, Luuk de Jong will lead the line for the Oranje against Italy.
Possible Lineup (4-2-3-1): Cillessen; Hateboer, Veltman, van Dijk, Ake; Frenkie de Jong, de Roon; Bergrwin, Wijnaldum, Depay, Luuk de Jong
Italy
Just like his counterpart in the dugout Netherlands, Roberto Mancini has seen his squad hit by injuries. However, as far as Italy is concerned, the head coach has seen more than one player dropped out, with Alessandro Bastoni, Gaetano Federico Bernadeschi Castrovilli and Domenico Berardi joined in withdrawing from the squad due to injury.
Meanwhile, Luca Pellegrini has joined the squad for U-21 rather than participate in the senior team. Despite all the withdrawal, though, Mancini has more than enough resources at its disposal to ensure Italy remains competitive against the Netherlands in a meeting of the League of Nations. In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who will be eager to keep a clean sheet on Monday, taking its own.
In front of him, Italy would take the form of 4-3-3 once again, with Giorgio Chiellini returned to the lineup following the odd gaffe by Mancini last time. The return of Italy captain is likely to be the only change in the backline, with Leonardo Bonucci, Alessandro Florenzi and Cristiano Biraghi keep their place.
In front of the midfield, the large bone of contention will be whether Mancini opted to bring back Jorginho lineup. The Chelsea midfielder was able to return, replacing Lorenzo Pellegrini, with Stefano Sensi moved to this no. 8 Slot together with Nicolo Barella.
Finally, in the attack, some changes are expected, with Ciro Immobile and Nicolo Zaniolo come to Andrea Belotti and Federico Chiesa, respectively. Immobile will spearhead the Italian attack against the Netherlands, with Zaniolo and Lorenzo Insigne into two broad.
Possible Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, BIRAGHI; Barella, Jorginho, Sensi; Zaniolo, Immobile, Insigne
Prediction
Dutch struggled to a 1-0 win over Poland on Friday night, with a goal on the hour mark Steven Bergwijn decisive.
Italy, meanwhile, came from behind to draw 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they will be hoping to avoid defeat here.
However, The Netherlands seems to be settled on both sides and have the means to sneak victory.
Netherlands 2 1 Italy
