How Netherlands will line up at Euro 2024

Cameron Smith

• 16 Jun 2024 09:52 BST
• 4 min read

The Netherlands remain one of the biggest nations in European football, although they are currently outsiders to win the 2024 European Championship.

Ronald Koeman’s side won six of their eight matches in qualifying, but several injury problems could prove costly during the tournament.

First-choice left-wing-back Quilindschy Hartman is absent due to injury, while the same can be said for Mats Wieffer, who was likely to start in central midfield. Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners are also notable absentees.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw - Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites

After missing both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands have now qualified for three successive major tournaments, although they will be hoping to go further than their round of 16 exit at Euro 2020 and their quarter-final loss at the most recent World Cup.

Below, FootballTransfers predicts the Netherlands’ first-choice starting XI at Euro 2024.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 top scorers

How Netherlands will line up at Euro 2024

Koeman has a fairly severe selection headache regarding his preferred goalkeeper. Andries Noppert was the starting ‘keeper during the 2022 World Cup, but he hasn’t even been included in the preliminary squad.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen is a serious contender for the number one jersey, but Brentford’s Mark Flekken may just win the battle to be the Netherlands’ starting goalkeeper.

Upon re-joining The Netherlands, Koeman stated that he would move to a back four system, however, he chopped and changed between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-5-2 during qualifying, and a back three shape is more likely at Euro 2024.

With that in mind, Matthijs de Ligt, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake are expected to start in the back three, with Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind as wing-backs.

Jeremie Frimpong has enjoyed a brilliant season with Bayer Leverkusen, however he has never been particularly fancied at international level.

De Jong was a guaranteed starter in midfield, but a major injury has seen him bow out of the squad. Tijani Reijnders, Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman are therefore expected to start in midfield. Georginio Wijnaldum is also an option.

Xavi Simons will play as a No.10, just behind a front two of Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo.

Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee was recalled into the squad following the injuries to De Jong and Koopmeiners, but he's unlikely to start.

Netherlands’ starting XI at Euro 2024

GK: Bart Verbruggen

RB: Denzel Dumfries

CB: Stefan de Vrij

CB: Virgil van Dijuk

LB: Nathan Ake

CDM: Joey Veerman

CM: Jerdy Schouten

CM: Tijjani Reijnders

RW: Xavi Simons

LW: Cody Gakpo

ST: Memphis Depay

The Netherlands’ Euro 2024 squad

Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton), Mark Flekken (Brentford), Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord).

Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), Daley Blind (Girona), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Nathan Ake (Man City), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Ian Maatsen (Borussia Dortmund).

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Joey Veerman (PSV), Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Gini Wijnaldum (Al-Ettifaq).

Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid), Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Wout Weghorst (Hoffenheim), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna).