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Netherlands national football team
Friendlies 1
Jun 6, 2021 at 5pm UK
 
Georgia national football team

Netherlands
3 - 0
Georgia

Depay (10' pen.), Weghorst (55'), Gravenberch (76')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Kakabadze (45+1'), Kashia (79')

Preview: Netherlands vs. Georgia - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's international friendly between Netherlands and Georgia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The Netherlands will complete their preparations for Euro 2020 with a friendly against Georgia at De Grolsch Veste in Enschede on Sunday evening.

Frank de Boer's side played out a 2-2 draw with Scotland in their last match on Wednesday, while Georgia will enter the contest off the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 success away to Romania.


Match preview

 Netherlands' manager Frank de Boer on June 2, 2021© Reuters

Memphis Depay scored twice for the Netherlands in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Scotland, and it would be fair to say that it was a far from convincing performance from De Boer's side.

It is difficult to know exactly what to expect from Holland at Euro 2020, but it would be a huge shock if they failed to reach the knockout rounds considering the strength of their group.

Indeed, the Netherlands have been placed in Group C alongside Austria, North Macedonia and Ukraine, and Oranje should have enough to reach the knockout stage of the competition for the first time since 2008.

Holland were victorious at Euro 1988 and have also finished third on four occasions - 1976, 1992, 2000 and 2004 - but they famously failed to qualify for Euro 2016 and went out in the group stages of Euro 2012, meaning that it has been an underwhelming period for the nation at this level.

De Boer will be looking for a morale-boosting win over Georgia on Sunday before his side open their Euro 2020 campaign against Ukraine in Amsterdam on June 13.

Georgia manager Willy Sagnol during the press conference on March 27, 2021© Reuters

Georgia, as mentioned, will be in a confident mood heading into this encounter, as they recorded a 2-1 win over Romania on Wednesday evening courtesy of goals from Georges Mikautadze and Giorgi Aburjania.

The Crusaders have never qualified for the finals of a European Championship, so it was not a surprise when they failed to progress to the finals of the 2020 competition.

Georgia suffered a 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia in the final of the playoffs in November, but they do appear to be heading firmly in the right direction, having given Sweden and Spain tough matches this year in their 2022 World Cup qualification section, in addition to drawing 1-1 with Greece.

Willy Sagnol's side will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins on Sunday in their first ever match with the Netherlands before turning their attention to their next competitive match against Kosovo in September.

Netherlands International Friendlies form:
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • D

Netherlands form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D

Georgia International Friendlies form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W

Georgia form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W



Team News

Netherlands' Luuk de Jong celebrates scoring their second goal with Memphis Depay on March 27, 2021© Reuters

Netherlands boss De Boer is expected to make a number of changes to the side that started against Scotland, with Memphis potentially dropping down to the bench in order to protect him for their Euro 2020 opener.

Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek should feature in the middle of the park, while Ryan Gravenberch, Patrick van Aanholt, Quincy Promes and Joel Veltman could all come in.

There might also be a change between the sticks, with the experienced Maarten Stekelenburg featuring, while Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt and Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong should both be involved.

As for Georgia, Solomon Kverkvelia will serve a suspension due to the red card that he picked up in the 2-1 win over Romania on Wednesday night.

Head coach Sagnol is also expected to make changes for his side's second friendly in relatively quick succession, with Saba Lobzhanidze, Guram Kashia and Budu Zivzivadze potentially coming in for starts.

Kashia could win his 87th cap in the middle of the away team's defence, while Aburjania and Murtaz Daushvili should retain their positions in midfield.

Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg; Veltman, De Ligt, De Vrij, Van Aanholt; Van de Beek, Gravenberch, F de Jong; Berghuis, Weghorst, Promes

Georgia possible starting lineup:
Loria; Kakabadze, Kashia, Khocholava, Giorbelidze; Shengelia, Kvekveskiri, Daushvili, Aburjania, Lobzhanidze; Zivzivadze


SM words green background

We say: Netherlands 2-1 Georgia

Georgia are certainly capable of making this an uncomfortable match for the home team, who are expected to make wholesale changes for their final match before Euro 2020. However, the Netherlands should have enough to secure a narrow victory at De Grolsch Veste.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Draw:data



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Game History

How you voted: Netherlands vs Georgia

Netherlands
72.3%
Draw
12.9%
Georgia
14.9%
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Donny van de Beek in action for Manchester United in the EFL Cup on December 23, 2020
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