“,”elementId”:”64d0d5a9-d1ec-4cf9-a112-cdde071f7636″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Ronald Koeman has chosen Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen in goal ahead of Brentford’s Mark Flekken, while Inter’s Stefan de Vrij is preferred to some more celebrated central defenders.
“,”elementId”:”13ebb3c9-167d-4d21-90be-c4fa8e72c631″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Poland (possible 3-4-2-1) Szczesny; Salamon, Bednarek, Kiwior; Frankowski, Zielinski, Romanczuk, Zalewski; Urbanski, S Szymanski; Buksa.
Substitutes: Skorupski, Bulka, Dawidowicz, Walukiewicz, Piotrowski, Swiderski, Moder, Lewandowski, Grosicki, Puchacz, D Szymanski, Bereszynski, Slisz, Skoras.
“,”elementId”:”06c27141-9c14-474c-9e1c-dbb39316e69e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Netherlands (possible 4-2-3-1) Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Veerman; Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo; Depay.
Substitutes: Bijlow, Flekken, Geertruida, De Ligt, Wijnaldum, Weghorst, Frimpong, Van de Ven, Blind, Malen, Maatsen, Zirkzee, Bergwijn, Gravenberch.
“,”elementId”:”2692e990-f5f6-423c-a161-97cd11a10c1c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Referee Artur Soares Dias (Portugal).
“,”elementId”:”bb713b1b-3987-4c4b-9241-80a5e90b32dc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1802307817027588512″,”elementId”:”0b91099b-e74c-446c-bf0d-8fdd70473e13″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://x.com/OnsOranje/status/1802307817027588512″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”
Our first 𝐗𝐈 of @EURO2024! ❤️🔥
Let's #CreateHistory together! 🇳🇱#NothingLikeOranje #POLNED pic.twitter.com/0q9RK76vex
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 16, 2024
“}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1718538981000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.56 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1718540073000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”08.14 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1718539074000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.57 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.57″,”title”:”Team News: Lewandowski out”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Sunday, June 16, 2024 08:17 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Sunday, June 16, 2024 07:30 EDT”},{“id”:”666ed0708f08cbec311d5658″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Ronald Koeman is aware his side must play better in Germany to go far. “We really know that we need to improve in a number of areas to compete with the other top countries,” he said after qualification was secured. “It is clear that football can and must be improved.”
\n
“,”elementId”:”4d5226b7-b098-43aa-8638-612c6326e554″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Euro 2024 team guides part 15: the Netherlands”,”elementId”:”03485a79-70db-4f13-ac44-d99054929192″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jun/10/euro-2024-team-guides-part-16-netherlands”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1718538352000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.45 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1718538434000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.47 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1718538434000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.47 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.47″,”title”:”Netherlands Team Guide”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Sunday, June 16, 2024 08:17 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Sunday, June 16, 2024 07:30 EDT”},{“id”:”666ed0378f08cbec311d564f”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Supporters are not deluding themselves thinking that Poland will qualify from the “group of death” that also features France, the Netherlands and Austria. Expectations are very low but that has often worked well in the past with Polish players. Probierz has repeatedly said that this is no time for a revolution. He has a safety-first approach with a 3-5-2 system and it is not difficult to predict who will start the opener against the Dutch.
\n
“,”elementId”:”8cf42d6b-0fd5-46e6-b6c9-175608c57643″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Euro 2024 team guides part 16: Poland”,”elementId”:”1d449a09-e821-49c8-95ba-76e16864b1d2″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jun/10/euro-2024-team-guides-part-16-poland”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1718538295000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.44 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1718538350000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.45 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1718538350000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.45 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.45″,”title”:”Poland Team Guide”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Sunday, June 16, 2024 08:17 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Sunday, June 16, 2024 07:30 EDT”},{“id”:”666826888f0840eeef1fa8fe”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
When a major tournament takes place in Germany, the Netherlands usually make an impression. They wowed the world with Total Football in 1974, won the European Championship in 1988 and participated lustily in the Battle of Nuremberg in 2006.
“,”elementId”:”8ef68167-3949-4de8-9769-a4eccbffc113″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
This year’s squad isn’t quite on a par with those three, and the Netherlands aren’t among the favourites to win Euro 2024. They still have plenty of quality, and a nice mix of experience and youth, but the absence of Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners through injury has left them light in midfield.
“,”elementId”:”c5738d61-9040-4e1a-a92e-94627cd178fc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The Netherlands qualified fairly comfortably despite losing home and away to France. Poland went the distance, beating Wales on penalties after a goalless playoff in Cardiff. Apart from Euro 2016, when they were a penalty shootout away from reaching the semi-finals, Poland have tended to disappoint at recent tournaments. But they also have happy historical memories of Germany: they finished third in the 1974 World Cup.
“,”elementId”:”98741c89-592d-49ea-a347-1ed7311cf3cb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Kick off 2pm.
“,”elementId”:”e5444ce2-15a4-4435-a6cd-8a450085413a”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1718537447000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.30 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1718536286000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.11 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1718537447000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.30 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.30″,”title”:”Preface”,”Contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Sunday, June 16, 2024 08:17 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First Published Sunday, June 16, 2024 07:30 EDT”},{“id”:”666ec8638f08b0b758d2ccf9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In the past hour there has been a major incident at the Reeperbahn, where Dutch fans were gathering before the game. A man was shot after threatening police with an axe and an “incendiary device”; he has been taken to hospital and the Reeperbahn has been closed to fans.
“,”elementId”:”6c53facd-cea8-40a5-8dde-ed25969d3c2e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
You can get the latest on our Euro 2024 news blog.
“,”elementId”:”84b564b4-a1e2-41aa-b89c-425dc73ac0de”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Euro 2024: police shoot man with pickaxe before Poland v Netherlands – news”,”elementId”:”33d9be5e-6422-4eeb-9511-83772d955551″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2024/jun/16/euro-2024-england-enter-the-fray-with-serbia-opener-in-gelsenkirchen-live”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1718537447000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.30 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1718537758000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.35 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1718537447000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.30 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.30″,”title”:”Man with axe shot by police”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Sunday, June 16, 2024 08:17 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Sunday, June 16, 2024 07:30 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false,”updateLogoAdPartnerSwitch”:true,”assetOrigin”:”https://assets.guim.co.uk/”}”>
Important Events
50 years!
Team news: Lewandowski out
Poland captain Robert Lewandowski will miss the match with a muscle injury and, although technically a reserve, is unlikely to play, so promising teenager Katzper Urbanski will start in attack.
Manager Ronald Koeman chose Brighton’s Bert Verbruggen as goalkeeper over Brentford’s Mark Flecken, while Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij was preferred over a more well-known centre-back.
Poland (possibly 3-4-2-1) Szczesny, Salamon, Bednarek, Kiwior, Frankowski, Zielinski, Romanczuk, Zalewski, Urbanski, S Szymanski, and Buksa.
Substitutes: Skorupski, Bulka, Davidowicz, Walkiewicz, Piotrowski, Swiderski, Moder, Lewandowski, Grosicki, Pucac, D. Szymanski, Beresinski, Šulis, Skolas.
Netherlands (possibly 4-2-3-1) Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Wehrman; Simmons, Lijnders, Gakpo; Depay.
Substitutions: Below, Flecken, Gertruida, de Ligt, Wijnaldum, Weghorst, Frimpong, van de Ven, Blind, Malen, Maatsen, Zirkzee, Bergwijn, Gravenberch.
Judgment Arthur Soares Dias (Portugal).
Our first 𝐗𝐈 Euro 2024! ❤️🔥
here we go #MakingHistory Together! 🇳🇱#NotLikeOrange #Porned pic.twitter.com/0q9RK76vex
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 16, 2024
“}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false,”updateLogoAdPartnerSwitch”:true,”assetOrigin”:”https://assets.guim.co.uk/”}”/>
Dutch Team Guide
Coach Ronald Koeman knows his team will have to play better if they are to progress in Germany. “We know we need to improve in many areas to compete with the other top countries,” he said after qualifying. “It’s clear that our football can and must improve.”
Polish Team Guide
Supporters are under no delusion that Poland can qualify from the “group of death” that also includes France, the Netherlands and Austria. Expectations are very low, but that has served the Polish players well so far. Probiesz has repeatedly said that now is not the time for a revolution. He has taken a safety-first approach with a 3-5-2 system, and it is not hard to predict who will start in the opening match against the Netherlands.
Ben Fisher Preview
Axe-wielding man shot by police
A major incident occurred on the Reeperbahn in the past hour, where Dutch fans were gathering before the match: a man who had threatened police with an axe and “incendiary bombs” was shot dead and taken to hospital, and the Reeperbahn was closed to fans.
For the latest updates, check out our Euro 2024 news blog.
preamble
Whenever a major tournament is held in Germany, the Netherlands usually impresses: they stunned the world with their Total Football in 1974, won the European Championship in 1988 and took a courageous part in the Battle of Nuremberg in 2006.
This year’s team is not on the same level as those three teams, and the Netherlands are not even among the favourites to win Euro 2024. The Netherlands still have plenty of talent and a good mix of experience and youth, but they are weakened in midfield with Frenkie de Jong and Teun Coopemeiners out through injury.
The Netherlands qualified fairly comfortably, despite losing both home and away to France. Poland fought their way through, beating Wales on penalties after a goalless playoff in Cardiff. Apart from Euro 2016, where they came close to reaching the semi-finals on penalties, Poland have tended to underwhelm in recent tournaments. However, Poland also has rich historical memories of their time against Germany, finishing third in the 1974 World Cup.
kick off 2 pm.
