Netherlands vs Iceland-The Netherlands will finish their preparations for Euro 2024 with a friendly against Iceland in Rotterdam on Monday night.
Ronald Koeman’s side will enter the competition on the back of a 4-0 success against Canada on Thursday, while Iceland also recorded a remarkable win last time out, beating England 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on Friday.
Match preview
The Netherlands famously missed out on qualification for Euro 2016, but they appeared in the 2020 edition of the tournament, reaching the round of 16, before reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
Not many are mentioning Holland as a potential challenger for the Euro 2024 crown, but they know what it takes to win the competition, having triumphed in 1988, when they reached the semi-finals three times.
Netherlands vs Iceland-Koeman’s side will play alongside Poland, Austria and France in Group D at Euro 2024, with their division opener coming against the former on June 16.
The Netherlands have won five of their last six matches in all competitions, including a 4-0 success against Canada in a friendly, so they head into the European Championships in strong form.
Netherlands vs Iceland-Holland have faced Iceland on 12 previous occasions, winning nine of those matches, but the last two meetings between the two teams ended in Iceland victories, both matches coming during the qualification process for the 2016 European football Championship.
Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson scored the only goal of the competition to record a 1-0 win over England at Wembley Stadium on Friday as Iceland enter Monday’s contest full of confidence.
Our boys will not be competing in the finals of Euro 2024, however, having been beaten 2-1 by Ukraine in the play-off final in late March.
Age Hareide’s side instead await a return to the UEFA Nations League, with Montenegro, Turkey and Wales their opponents in Group 4 of League B in the 2024-25 competition.
Iceland, who famously reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, enter the competition in strong form, having won four of their last five matches, and the signs for the future are certainly bright.
The national team are now eyeing what should be a famous third straight success against the Netherlands and they have won each of their last three friendlies without conceding a goal.
Team News
Netherlands vs Iceland-Netherlands head coach Koeman will make changes to the team that started against Canada last time out, with Nathan Ake, Denzel Dumfries and Virgil van Dijk all expected to come into defence.
Frenkie de Jong’s involvement remains unclear, as he missed the end of last season with an ankle injury, but there should be a place for Teun Kupmainers in central midfield against Iceland.
Memphis Depay is comfortably the squad’s leading goalscorer with 45 goals, and the forward could join Cody Gakpo in the final third of the field, while Xavi Simmons is also set to be involved at some stage as an unused substitute. The last match of the team.
For Iceland, head coach Harried is likely to name the same XI that started against England, with no reported fitness issues ahead of the contest.
Thorsteinsson hit the winner against the Three Lions and missed another huge chance in the second half and he lined up to support Andriy Gudjohnsen once again.
Johan Berg Gudmundsson is in line to win his 93rd cap from a deep midfield position, while Ajax youngster Kristian Hlinsson hopes to make his second appearance for his country.
Netherlands vs Iceland Lineup:
Netherlands Probable Starting Lineup:
Netherlands vs Iceland-Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Ake, Van de Ven; Koopmeiners, Wijnaldum, Gravenberch; Frimpong, Gakpo, Memphis
Iceland Probable Starting Lineup:
Valdimarson; Bjarkason, Ingason, Gretarsson, Finnsson; Trustson, Gudmundson; Andersen, Haraldsson, Thorsteinsson; a Gudjohnsen
Netherlands vs Iceland prediction: Netherlands 2-1 Iceland
Iceland have done a lot in their friendly with England, and so it’s no surprise to see a drop-off in performance here. Netherlands vs Iceland-Meanwhile, the Netherlands will be determined to enter Euro 2024 on the back of a win, and we can see the home side navigating a narrow path to success on Monday night.