England vs Netherlands – International Friendly – Preview

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Sreya

England hosts Netherlands at the New Wembley on 29th March in an international friendly before the players resume their duties with their respective clubs in the weekend.

England pulled off a surprise 3-2 win after going down by two goals – a result which will definitely act as a morale booster for the young brigade. Netherlands, meanwhile, are in the process of rebuilding after a few abysmal years when they crashed out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and failed to qualify for the upcoming 2016 Euro.

Team News

Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling, Ryan Bertrand and Jack Butland have been ruled out with injuries for England. Changes are set to be made to the side which won in Berlin with Daniel Sturridge set to make a return to the national fold. Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater is also likely to make his debut.

Netherlands will be without the injured Jasper Cillessen, Wesley Sneijder and Davy Klaassen. Daley Blind has been listed as a doubt as well.

England Possible Starting Lineup: Fraser Forster, Kyle Walker, Phil Jagielka, John Stones, Danny Rose, Daniel Drinkwater, James Milner, Theo Walcott, Ross Barkley, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge.

Netherlands Possible Starting Lineup: Kenneth Vermeer, Joel Veltman, Virgil Van Dijk, Jetro Wilems, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordy Clasie, Richeldy Bazoer, Quincy Promes, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Memphis Depay.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“There will be changes, but how wholesale they will be, you will have to wait and see. We should be rightly proud of the win but that moment of satisfaction has now passed. The fact the Netherlands have suffered a lean period doesn’t alter the fact they have very good players and are a very good team.

After the Germany game we don’t want a game that doesn’t test us. I want these games to show that we have players capable of doing what we want them to do.”

– Roy Hodgson, England.

“It’s very difficult. Because Holland were in second place in 2010 (at the World Cup) and third in 2014 in Brazil so people expect a lot from our team. It’s very disappointing that we didn’t qualify. It will be a tough summer in Holland. We don’t go to France this summer. Our goal is gone. We have to make a new goal – qualification for 2018. That’s the only thing we can do – play those games in a very, very serious way.”

– Danny Blind, Netherlands.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, England have won 30% of their matches against Netherlands. It should be a closely contested affair but England are likely to win by a 2-1 scoreline.