De Kuip prepares to host two international giants
Netherlands v Spain Preview
Spain, the reigning UEFA Nations League champions, head to Rotterdam for the first leg of their quarter-final clash against the Netherlands.
The winners of this two-legged tie will progress to the semi-finals in June, where they will face either Croatia or France.
After being knocked out by England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals last summer, the Netherlands secured second place in League A Group 3 of the Nations League, picking up nine points from six matches (W2 D3 L1) in the latter half of last year.
Since the competition's inception in 2018, the Dutch have twice come close to lifting the trophy—finishing as runners-up to Portugal in 2019 before losing the third-place playoff to Italy in 2023.
READ MORE: What's the point of the UEFA Nations League
Manager Ronald Koeman will be looking to shore up a defence that struggled during the group stage, conceding seven goals—the most of any team at this stage—while keeping just one clean sheet.
However, history suggests the Netherlands tend to hold their own against Spain, conceding just three goals in their last five meetings. They will also be buoyed by a strong home record, having gone unbeaten in their last seven matches on Dutch soil across all competitions, with an impressive aggregate score of 24-4, netting four or more goals in five of those games.
Spanish perspective
Although France are placed one spot higher than Spain in the world rankings, it is fair to say that they are the best team in Europe at present. They are the holders of both the Nations League and the European Championship, winning the latter for an unprecedented fourth time last summer.
After beating England in that Euro 2024 final, Spain collected 16 Nations League points from a possible 18 available across six League A Group 4 matches in the second half of last year to finish top of the pile and eight points clear of their nearest challengers Denmark in second.
READ MORE: How Spain won Euro 2024
They are now looking to extend their winning run in the Nations League to six games, but they face a Netherlands outfit on Thursday whom they have not beaten in 90 minutes since February 1983 when they won a Euros qualifier 1-0 in Seville.
Which players have been called up?
The Netherlands have been forced into several changes, with Ryan Gravenberch, Denzel Dumfries, and Jerdy Schouten all withdrawing due to injury. Nathan Aké, Stefan de Vrij, and Devyne Rensch are also unavailable. Joshua Zirkzee, Wout Weghorst, Marten de Roon, and Quinten Timber have not been selected.
Ajax defender Youri Baas and midfielder Mats Wieffer have been drafted in to replace Dumfries and Schouten. Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong has been included in Ronald Koeman’s squad, though he remains a slight doubt after missing Barcelona’s 4-2 victory over Atlético Madrid last weekend due to illness.
Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool future may be uncertain, but the 33-year-old is expected to lead the Oranje from central defence. Elsewhere, Jurrien Timber, Tijjani Reijnders, Cody Gakpo, and Justin Kluivert will all be hoping to secure a place in the starting XI.
Spain have also made late adjustments, with Iñigo Martínez, Marc Casadó, and Bryan Zaragoza pulling out through injury. In response, Bournemouth’s uncapped defender Dean Huijsen and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Aleix García have been called up.
Real Madrid centre-back Raúl Asencio has received his first senior call-up and, alongside Huijsen, is in contention to make his debut. However, Pau Cubarsí and Robin Le Normand are likely to start at centre-back.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is set to win his 18th senior cap on the right wing. He could form a front three alongside captain Álvaro Morata and Nico Williams.
