Netherlands vs Spain team news and predicted lineups | OneFootball

Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands take on Luis de la Fuente’s Spain in the first leg of their Uefa Nations League quarter-final on Thursday 20th March.

The game at the De Kuip Stadium kicks off at 7:45pm (UK time), but a UK broadcaster is yet to be confirmed.

Netherlands vs Spain predicted line-ups

Netherlands (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Frimpong, de Ligt, van Dijk, Hato; Gravenberch, Wieffer; Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo; Brobbey

Spain (4-3-3): Raya; Porro, Cubarsi, Asencio, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Ruiz, Pedri; Yamal, Williams, Morata

Netherlands vs Spain team news

A big loss for Ronald Koeman is Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries pulling out of the Netherlands squad ahead of their Uefa Nations League quarter-final, with Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong another fitness dobt.

De Jong missed Barcelona’s victory against Atletico Madrid at the weekend, but has joined up with the Dutch squad ahead of their games. Brighton and Hove Albion‘s Mats Wieffer and PSV’s Jerdy Schouten could both be options to partner Ryan Gravenberch in midfield should De Jong be unavailable.

For Luis de la Fuente, two of his selections have already dropped out of the squad in the shape of Barcelona duo Inigo Martinez and Marc Casado. This has seen Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen called up to the first team, hoping to earn his first caps on this international break.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Garcia has been called up to replace Marc Casado in midfield, likely to act as cover for the trio of Martin Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz and Pedri.

The Lamine Yamal effect

The jewel in the Spanish national team crown is, of course, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. At just 17, Yamal already has 17 senior international appearances to his name, scoring three goals and providing eight assists (including four at Euro 2024, helping Spain to the trophy).

Yamal is providing the highest assists per 90 minutes in La Liga this season, with 0.50 while also scoring 0.27 goals per 90. His output already at such a young age is excellent, having made 38 appearances for Barcelona this season, scoring 13 goals and providing 17 assists.

The Barcelona prodigy also takes the most shots per game in La Liga amongst wingers, with 3.92 per 90, getting 1.23 of these shots on target, giving him a shot accuracy of 31.4%. Cutting inside from the right on to his stronger left foot has become a signature of his game, stepping inside to curl one to the far left corner.

Yamal isn’t just an output winger though. The 17-year-old attempts 8.35 take-ons per 90 and completes 4.61 take-ons per 90, making him the highest-ranked winger for take-ons in La Liga this season. He also has the highest Expected Assists totals for wingers in La Liga, with 0.34 per 90.

Luis de la Fuente’s system is very well suited to Yamal, as we saw at Euro 2024, often looking to isolate him in similar one-on-one areas as he finds himself in at Barcelona on the right. This gives Yamal the freedom to attack in behind, or come short to collect the ball and drive his team up the pitch.