Netherlands vs Malta: Oranje Seek Home Win in World Cup Qualifier
Colaboradores
The Netherlands are set to clash with Malta in a World Cup qualifier at Groningen, marking their first home qualifier in the city in 42 years. After a comfortable 2-0 away win against Finland, the Dutch are looking to secure another victory and potentially top their group.
Form of Both Teams
Ronald Koeman's side is coming off a decent run, having reached the quarter-finals of the Nations League earlier this year. While they ultimately lost to Spain in a penalty shootout, their performance showed they can compete with Europe's elite.
Malta, on the other hand, is struggling. They haven't won in four games and haven't scored in any of those matches. However, they did manage a goalless draw against Lithuania, showcasing some defensive resilience.
Historical Context
This match carries historical weight for Koeman. Back in 1983, the Netherlands missed out on EURO 1984 in a controversial manner. They were in a group with Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and Malta. Spain needed to beat Malta by eleven goals on the final day to qualify, and they did so, winning 12-1, leading to suspicions of foul play. Koeman was part of that Dutch squad and will be hoping for a more straightforward victory this time around.
Players to Watch
Cody Gakpo is a key player for the Netherlands and a strong contender to score. Memphis Depay also poses a significant threat to the Maltese defense.
Expected Lineups
Netherlands Expected Lineup: Flekken; Dumfries, Ake, van Dijk, van Hecke, Gravenberch, de Jong, Reijnders, Frimpong, Gakpo, Depay
Malta Expected Lineup: Bonello; Muscat, Camenzuli, Carragher, Pepe, Guillaumier, Satariano, Jones, J. Mbong, Teuma, P. Mbong
Prediction
While Malta will likely put up a defensive fight, the Netherlands are expected to win comfortably. A clean sheet is also a possibility.
- Netherlands to win with a clean sheet
- Cody Gakpo to score anytime