Ronald Koeman, leading the national team of the Netherlands, now faces an important match in Athens againstin Greece by Gustavo Poyet with qualification for Euro 2024 at stake. France qualified on Friday after beating ‘Oranje’ in Amsterdam with a double Kylian Mbappé (1-2) and second place is largely dependent on tonight’s game.
Greece, who beat Ireland in Dublin on Friday (0-2), knocked the Netherlands out of second place in group B, have 12 points from 6 games and have two to go: today and the last one on November 21 against France in Athens.
The Netherlands have 9 points, three less than Greece, but in five games, so, in addition to tonight’s game, they will need two more against the last teams in the group, both no longer options to qualify : they will receive on November 18 Ireland, with three points, and three days later they will visit under Gibraltar, without points.
In other words, the Netherlands cannot lose today and, in the worst case scenario, it cannot do so by a bigger goal difference than the 3-0 with which the ‘Oranje’ beat Greece in Eindhoven in September. This detail is important because, with equal points at the end of the group, the individual ‘average’ will be used and the Netherlands is in favor of it as long as it does not suffer today and falls by four goals.
A 4-0 qualified Greece
Greece, therefore, now has a remote chance of qualifying: win 4-0. In that case, he would get 6 points from the Netherlands and have a certain average in his favor.
Koeman did not miss this possibility either and, despite a long list of casualties, they are confident of at least getting a draw and continue to rely on themselves.
Koeman, in the box and Weghorst is in doubt
Wout Weghorst has been Koeman’s big doubt since the forward retired on Friday in the first half against France. If not recovered, it will be added to the absences of Frenkie de Jong, Memphis, Gakpo, Timber, Botman, De Ligt, Flekken, Lang, Koopmeiners, Malacia and Berghuis. Due to this situation, goalkeeper Verbruggen and winger Harytman made their debuts on Friday.
Greece has gained strength since the Uruguayan Gustavo Poyet, former Zaragoza player and former Betis technician, assumed his leadership. With him they won seven and lost three out of ten official matches
Possible lineups
OPAP Arena of Athens
Greece: Vlachodimos; Rota, Mavropanos, Retsos, Tsimikas; Bakasetas, Kourbelis, Mantalos; Masouras, Giakoumakis, Pelkas
Coach: Gustavo Poyet
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Geetruida, Van Dijk, Aké; Dumfries, Wieffer, Reijnders, Veerman, Hartman; Simons, Malen
Coach: Ronald Koeman
Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Spain)
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
