Ending a long season with the game no team wants to be part of, the Netherlands and Italy both missed out in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals this week so must contest a third-place playoff on Sunday.
They will battle it out for bronze in Enschede, after the tournament hosts exited to Croatia in extra time and their Italian counterparts were beaten by Spain.
After storming through the group stage – racking up 16 points from a possible 18 against Belgium, Poland and Wales to reach the Nations League’s final four – hopes of some rare international silverware were raised in the Netherlands, and particularly when they were then named as finals hosts.
The Oranje, however, came unstuck in the semi-finals, as they were finally felled by a superior Croatia side on Wednesday, despite taking the teams’ clash at De Kuip into extra time with a last-gasp leveller.
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, Ronald Koeman’s side forced another half-hour through Noa Lang’s late intervention, which came after Donyell Malen’s opener was overturned by two Croatian goals after the break.
That was more bad news for returning coach Koeman, who had already overseen a 4-0 thumping by France in the Netherlands’ opening European Championship qualifying Group B fixture, before a regulation win over Gibraltar.
After predecessor Louis Van Gaal had led the Dutch side to a long unbeaten run before falling to eventual winners Argentina in last year’s World Cup, it has therefore been a less than impressive start to the ex-Ajax manager’s second spell as national coach.
For that reason, even Sunday’s consolation game carries some weight, as Koeman will want to avoid another failure on home soil before tackling Greece and the Republic of Ireland in September’s Euro 2024 qualifying double-header.
Italy’s aim this weekend will surely be similar to their hosts, as a worrying run of results continued for the reigning European champions with defeat to Spain in midweek.
For the second season in a row, La Roja booked their spot in the Nations League final at the Italians’ expense, with a rusty Leonardo Bonucci gifting Spain an early goal and Ciro Immobile’s subsequent equaliser from the penalty spot ultimately proving insufficient to secure extra time, as Joselu struck late on in Enschede.
The Azzurri now return to the same venue seeking a better outcome, having also suffered recent losses to Austria and England – in addition to a 5-2 defeat at Germany’s hands in the Nations League group stage.
Though they managed to overcome the latter setback in order to reach the semi-finals, such brittleness continues a trend which has seen Italy miss out on a second successive World Cup in the playoffs and also lose 3-0 to Argentina in last year’s Finalissma.
Having finished third on home soil two years ago, when they claimed bronze by beating Belgium in Turin, Roberto Mancini’s men will want to at least match that feat and end their season on a brighter note – particularly following the gloom brought by three Serie A sides coming up short in UEFA finals.
Mancini’s squad – featuring a mix of veterans such as Bonucci, Immobile and Francesco Acerbi with several 30-somethings – has certainly stuttered since the glory of Wembley two summers ago, so Sunday’s game may decide whether that contingent remain on the road to Germany or are instead replaced by younger models come September.
After Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was deployed up front for the Netherlands on Wednesday evening, but endured a miserable night – conceding a penalty and missing the few chances which came his way – Ronald Koeman could turn to either Wout Weghorst or Steven Bergwijn against Italy.
Memphis Depay would usually lead the line, but he has joined another regular starter, Matthijs de Ligt, in missing out the Nations League finals through injury.
Other personnel changes could see players such as Sven Botman, Tyrell Malacia and Marten De Roon promoted to the hosts’ starting lineup too.
Italy, meanwhile, are set to make a number of alterations to the team beaten by Spain, and after switching to a 3-5-2 setup in midweek, Roberto Mancini may now revert to his customary 4-3-3 formation.
Though Ciro Immobile was ice-cool from the spot on Thursday, Argentina-based Mateo Retegui may be brought into the Azzurri’s attack after scoring in both of his first two international appearances earlier this year. Wilfried Gnonto and Giacomo Raspadori are also available to freshen up the Italian front line.
While Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali was curiously sent to join the Azzurrini’s quest to win the European Under-21 Championships, Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Pellegrini still provide quality alternatives in midfield; however, Davide Frattesi could drop out due to a knee problem.
At the back, Alessandro Bastoni missed out in midweek after picking up a bug, so options are thin on the ground to reshuffle an ageing defence – Bastoni’s Inter teammates Matteo Darmian and Federico Dimarco are most likely to come in.
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Botman, Malacia; De Roon, De Jong; Bergwijn, Koopmeiners, Simons; Weghorst
Italy possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Darmian, Toloi, Acerbi, Dimarco; Barella, Verratti, Pellegrini; Zaniolo, Retegui, Raspadori
We say: Netherlands 2-1 Italy
Motivation will be a major factor on Sunday afternoon, as only third spot in the UEFA Nations League is at stake following a gruelling 2022-23 campaign and the main event takes place later in the day. As hosts, the Netherlands have more to play for in front of their Oranje-clad fans, and they can breach Italy’s declining defence more than once.
