 |
Pre-match review
The Netherlands and Finland – currently 63 places apart in the FIFA rankings – are in Group G, which also includes Poland, Lithuania and Malta.
The Netherlands had hoped to feature in the UEFA Nations League this month, but their run ended in disappointment when they lost 5-4 on penalties to Spain in the quarter-finals in March after two thrilling matches that featured a total of 10 goals.
Notably, coach Ronald Koeman has only won two of his last nine matches in all competitions (D4 L3) and both were big wins in the Nations League against Bosnia-Herzegovina (5-2) and Hungary (4-0).
Having played in the Nations League in March, the Netherlands are currently behind in the World Cup qualifying race, with their group rivals having already played two games. The Oranje are six points behind leaders Poland, who have won both of their opening matches.
Ranked 6th in the world according to FIFA rankings, the Netherlands are aiming for their 12th appearance at the World Cup. To achieve this goal, they need to win at least 6 out of 8 group stage matches, because in all 8 times that the Netherlands did not exceed the 60% win rate in the qualifying round, they were unable to qualify for the biggest tournament on the planet.
On the other hand, Finland had a turbulent 2024 when they failed to win any of their eight appearances (1 draw, 7 losses), and were relegated from League B after six defeats in a group that included England, the Republic of Ireland and Greece.
However, under new coach Jacob Friis - who succeeded Markku Kanerva in January - Finland have made a bright start to 2025. They took all three points in a 1-0 win over Malta, who were down a man, before drawing 2-2 with Lithuania despite taking an early two-goal lead.
Finland are currently ranked 2nd in Group G, 2 points behind Poland and at least 3 points ahead of the 3 teams below them. However, coach Friis and his team still have a lot of work to do if they want to improve their home record - where they have lost all 3 recent matches, conceded at least 2 goals in each match, and won only 1 of the last 5 World Cup qualifiers at home (D2 L2).
Form, head-to-head history
In the last 5 matches, Netherlands won 1, drew 3 and lost 1; while Finland won 1, drew 1 and lost 3.
The trip to Finland is considered one of the toughest tests in Group G - on paper at least - but the Dutch have every reason to be confident. They have won all four of their previous meetings with Finland in Euro and World Cup qualifiers, scoring a total of 11 goals and conceding just twice.
According to experts, Finland is unlikely to create a surprise, especially when they have not won against the Netherlands since 1950 (a 4-1 friendly win). If coach Koeman puts out his strongest squad, the Netherlands is fully capable of winning to confirm their position in Group G.
Force information
Finland will be without veteran midfielder Roman Eremenko (38), who has 73 caps for the national team. He was recalled after nearly nine years of absence, but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Veterans such as goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, strikers Teemu Pukki, Joel Pohjanpalo and Robin Lod are all present. Hradecky is expected to start and become only the sixth player in Finnish history to reach 100 caps for the national team.
Two new names, Matias Siltanen (18 years old, Djurgarden) and Tommi Jyry (25 years old, Petrolul Ploiesti) were called up to the national team for the first time, but the possibility of playing from the start is very low.
On the Dutch side, a series of key players such as Bart Verbruggen, Jurrien Timber, Jerdy Schouten, Brian Brobbey, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, Kenneth Taylor and Joey Veerman are all absent due to injury or physical reasons.
Nathan Ake, however, has returned from foot surgery and will compete for the left-back spot with Ajax youngster Jorrel Hato. On the opposite flank, Denzel Dumfries, Lutsharel Geertruida and Liverpool new boy Jeremie Frimpong are all ready to start.
Frenkie de Jong and Tijjani Reijnders - who is set to join Man City - are likely to form a central midfield duo, while the attack will feature Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo, Justin Kluivert and one of two strikers: Memphis Depay or Wout Weghorst.
Finland: Hradecky; Alho, Tenho, Ivanov, Uronen; Kamara, Kairinen, Lod; Antman, Pohjanpalo, Kallman
Netherlands: Flekken; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Ake; De Jong, Reijnders; Kluivert, Simons, Gakpo; Weghorst
Score prediction: Finland 0-2 Netherlands
Source: https://tienphong.vn/nhan-dinh-phan-lan-vs-ha-lan-01h45-ngay-86-con-loc-mau-da-cam-tro-lai-post1749136.tpo
![[OCOP REVIEW] Tu Duyen Syrup - The essence of herbs from the mountains and forests of Nhu Thanh](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/6/5/58ca32fce4ec44039e444fbfae7e75ec)
Comment (0)