The Netherlands will face off with Italy for the first time in over two years in an international friendly later today at Amsterdam Arena.
The Dutch will play their first match with interim manager Fred Grim after firing Danny Blind following a 2-0 World Cup Qualifier loss to Bulgaria on Saturday. The Netherlands sacked Blind due to the team's recent results in World Cup qualifying.
The team has only won two of its five qualifier matches while losing two and drawing 1-1 with Sweden back in September. The Dutch sit in fourth place in Group A of their World Cup qualification group.
The Netherlands held over 70 percent possession against Bulgaria away from home, but only managed to get three shots on target in the loss. Memphis Depay has been in form for French club Olympique Lyon, but didn't even make an appearance on Saturday while the attack struggled.
Grim will want to lead his men back to winning ways and the friendly against Italy will be his first chance.
While the Netherlands have been struggling, Italy continues to move in a positive direction. The Azzurri are unbeaten in their last five matches with three wins and two draws. The latest victory came in a World Cup qualifier match against Albania on Friday by a 2-0 score. The Italians maintained more possession than the Albanians and limited them to one shot-on-goal and only three corners throughout the match.
Daniele De Rossi broke the deadlock for Italy after converting on a penalty in the 12th minute. Ciro Immobile added to the lead when he scored on a header, making it 2-0 in the 71st minute. With the win, the Azzurri remain tied with Spain with 13 points in Group G. However, Spain has the advantage for first place because of its higher goal differential.
Italy is a much younger side than it has been in recent years. The average age for the squad is just about 26, according to Transfermarkt. Manager Gian Piero Ventura placed a focus on giving younger players a chance with La Nazionale ever since he took over after the 2016 Euros.
Head to Head
The two nations have competed in four friendlies and one Euro match since 2005. Italy has won two of those matches and the Netherlands has won one. The other two matches ended in a draw. The one victory for the Flying Dutchman came in the 2008 Euro tournament.
The most recent meeting between the sides came in a 2014 friendly in Italy in which the home side was victorious, 2-0. However, the last time Azzurri traveled to the Netherlands in 2013, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Players to Watch:
Memphis Depay
Depay has looked much better for Lyon since he joined the Ligue 1 side from Manchester United. The forward has scored five goals in 10 appearances for the side, which earned him a spot back onto the Dutch national team.
The 23-year-old can create chances from many attacking areas, but he has featured most as a winger. Depay can drive the ball down the flanks before cutting inside for his own shot or trying to set up a teammate. With veteran Italian defender, Andrea Barzagli out for the Azzurri, Depay may be able to do more damage.
Andrea Belotti
Belotti is one half of the current and future Azzurri attack. The 23-year-old leads the Serie A with 22 goals and has also recorded three assists on the season. The Torino man has also scored three goals in the World Cup qualification stages.
The forward's strengths include finishing both with his feet and his head, and also his defensive contribution. Belotti last scored for Italy when he recorded a double in a 4-0 win against Liechtenstein in November. Look for the youngster to cause trouble for the Dutch defense on Tuesday.
Prediction:
The Dutch should come out hungry and play hard for their new manager. The Netherlands was a powerhouse to be messed with just a few years ago, and will want to get back to that status. In addition, the Italians are known for being lackluster in their friendlies. With the home advantage, a new manager and
Italy still experimenting with younger players, the Dutch can certainly get on the scoreboard.
However, with Italy’s latest form and the performances of younger players being positive, I have a hard time thinking the Netherlands will dominate and win the game. Italy’s options in attack provide more than enough threats to score.
Therefore, I believe that both teams will get on the scoresheet and the friendly will end in a 1-1 draw.