Netherlands vs Italy
Netherlands and Italy are left to duel for the bronze medal of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League after losing in the semi-finals last night.
Italy’s path to redemption after missing the World Cup was halted when they were beaten by Spain, while hosts Netherlands are not going to celebrate the big silverware in front of their home fans after losing to Croatia.
Both nations have finished in the Top 3 before in this tournament, so winning the third-place play-off will give them a sense of pride, which will surely help as they prepare for the continuation of the Euro 2024 qualifiers in September.
And with Netherlands and Italy boasting top-tier talent, SBOTOP football fans can expect UEFA Nations League 2023 highlights from this Sunday fixture.
Talking Points
Koeman prioritises his youngsters
Ronald Koeman’s second managerial stint in Netherlands hasn’t gone according to plan thus far after succeeding Louis van Gaal following last year’s Qatar World Cup.
In his first games back in the job during the ongoing Euro 2024 qualifiers, Netherlands were humiliated by France with a 4-0 scoreline, which was followed by an unconvincing 3-0 victory against minnows Gibraltar.
To be fair, Koeman’s squad is not at full strength, as the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Steven Berghuis, Stefan de Vrij, and Jeremie Frimpong were not listed on the national team, while Memphis Depay is sidelined through injury.
Depay, the Oranje’s second-all-time leading scorer with 44 goals, is dealing with a calf injury that he sustained last month, and there’s no timetable for his return.
With Depay out, Cody Gakpo was thrust into the No. 9 role for Netherlands, but he hasn’t regained his Qatar World Cup form. However, they should still have enough ammunition with the likes of Donyell Malen, Xavi Simons, Noa Lang, Steven Bergwijn, and Wout Weghorst available.
In the past few months, Koeman has been focused on developing his younger players, which has resulted in Lutsharel Geertruida recording two caps for the Oranje.
Geertruida has been linked with a move to Barcelona after emerging as one of the best young full-backs in Netherlands this season, chipping in three goals and three assists to help Feyenoord win the Eredivisie crown.
Pairing Geertruida with Virgil van Dijk should only make him better, given the Liverpool star’s big-game experience. Now, if they could lessen the number of goals that they concede, that would improve their UEFA Nations League 2023 odds.
Italy’s midfield depth
Roberto Mancini surprised everyone when he picked Davide Frattesi ahead of Marco Verratti against Spain, and the Sassuolo star repaid the manager’s trust with a breakout performance.
Frattesi was arguably the best player on the pitch for the Azzurri, as La Roja struggled to contain him. The 23-year-old even found the back of the net in the first half, which was disallowed by the VAR, and he had another great chance late in the game, only to see his shot saved by Spain’s Unai Simon.
This season, Frattesi recorded seven goals for Sassuolo. Because he had a great campaign, rival clubs such as AS Roma and Inter Milan are lining up for his signature.
He was paired with Nicolo Barella in the middle, who also had a good performance. Barella is being eyed by several Premier League clubs this summer, with Newcastle United reportedly offering a £50 million fee for his services.
Mancini will have to make a decision on who will lead their midfield this Sunday, as other than Barella and Frattesi, he also has the likes of Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Jorginho.
History
Netherlands and Italy last met in the 2021 UEFA Nations League group stage. In their first encounter, Italy beat Netherlands 1-0, courtesy of Nicolo Barella, while Netherlands held Italy to a 1-1 draw in their reverse fixture as Donny van de Beek cancelled out Lorenzo Pellegrini’s goal.
Italy qualified for the Nations League finals after topping Group A, with Netherlands finishing second, losing out by only a point.
The Azzurri eventually finished third after losing to Spain 2-1 in the semi-finals before beating Belgium with the same scoreline in the third-place play-off.
The Oranje have never won an international trophy for more than 35 years now, with their last major title being the 1988 European Championship. Meanwhile, Italy’s last silverware came in 2021, when they won the Euro 2020.
Netherlands’ last win against Italy in any competitive setting was a 3-0 result back in the Euro 2008 group stage, when Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst all found the back of the net.
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