Wales recommence their League A Group 4 campaign against Netherlands at Cardiff City Stadium in 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.
Victory could see Wales climb as high as first if Poland lose elsewhere and Rob Page’s Welsh Dragons achieve a better goal difference come full-time.
Netherlands meanwhile will stay top of Group 4 in League A with a win.
Team News
Wales have no fresh injury concerns to report coming into this match after Sunday’s World Cup Qualification clinching win over Ukraine.
Manager, Rob Page though could opt to rotate his squad as players like Chris Mepham, Rabbi Matondo and Sorba Thomas look to start, after being rested on Sunday.
Netherlands will be without Tim Krul after he withdrew from the squad due to injury with Kjell Scherpen called up as Krul’s replacement.
Stat Attack
- This is Wales’ first Nations League meeting against Netherlands but are winless in eight previous meetings across all competitions (L8).
- Netherlands have won each of their three previous visits to Wales, albeit without keeping a clean sheet (W3).
- Now retired Dutch player – Arjen Robben scored four goals across the Netherlands’ last three meetings against Wales in all competitions.
- Wales have kept just one clean sheet in their last five home matches in all competitions (W3, D2).
- Memphis Depay has scored twice in each of Netherlands’ last two away matches in all competitions.
Prediction
Following Sunday’s lucky smash-and-grab winner to defeat Ukraine amidst waves of stubborn defending, Wales are coming into this match on a high but their stubborn defending might be to their advantage if they can frustrate the Dutch and snatch another clinical winner.
Netherlands though are coming into this game off the back of a ruthless win away to Belgium and have a fearsome attack to boot, so I expect them to come here looking to dominate on the front foot given their form in this fixture.
My biggest concern for Wales though will be whether Sunday’s physical contest and achievement has taken much out of them mentally, even despite rotation because if they don’t focus quickly and get stuck in early on then this could well get beyond their grasp.
Prediction: Wales 0-2 Netherlands
Result: Wales 1-2 Netherlands
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