The Netherlands really impressed during their UEFA Nations League campaign over the course of this season. Placed in a tough trio alongside none other than two most recent winners of the World Cup - France and Germany - the Oranje nonetheless managed to top their group to book their spot in the final four. It's been a remarkable turnaround for a team who haven't featured at a major tournament after failing to qualify for both EURO 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, and they will be looking to become the champions of the inaugural UEFA Nations League in Portugal next month.
What the Netherlands' squad for the UEFA Nations League finals?
Here's the final squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League finals:
Goalkeepers: Marco Bizot (AZ); Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona); Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord)
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool); Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax); Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace); Nathan Aké (Bournemouth); Daley Blind (Ajax); Denzel Dumfries (PSV Eindhoven); Stefan de Vrij (Inter); Hans Hateboer (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Donny van de Beek (Ajax); Frenkie de Jong (Ajax); Davy Pröpper (Brighton & Hove Albion); Marten de Roon (Atalanta); Kevin Strootman (Marseille); Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord); Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
Forwards: Quincy Promes (Sevilla); Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven); Memphis Depay (Lyon); Steven Bergwijn (PSV Eindhoven); Ryan Babel (Fulham)
Who are the key players for the Netherlands?
Virgil van Dijk
One can't talk about this Netherlands squad without mentioning its skipper, Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool star has had an amazing season for the Reds, and is set to feature in his second straight Champions League final when Jurgen Klopp's men lock horns with Tottenham in an exciting all-English affair on June 1st. Van Dijk has been a rock in defense for club and country, and for his efforts won both the PFA Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year.
Will he come into the Nations League finals as a Champions League winner? He certainly could, and interestingly enough, will be getting very familiar with players like Dele Alli, Harry Kane, Danny Rose, Eric Dier at club and country level; in addition, club teammate Jordan Henderson will go from colleague to foe in the span of just a few days.
Matthijs de Ligt
He's only 19, but is already a veteran at Ajax, having played in nearly 80 first-team games and was handed the captain's armband last March. This season, he played a vital role in a side which was within a shout of making it to the Champions League final, and along the way, Ajax impressively saw off reigning champions Real Madrid as well as prevented Cristiano Ronaldo from winning another Champions League with his new side, Juventus. That was thanks to his game-winner in Turin, which made him the youngest Dutch player to net a goal in the knockout stages since 1996 (before he was even born) and sent Ajax through to the semi-finals for the first time since the 1996/1997 term.
De Ligt made history two years ago as the youngest player to ever start for the Netherlands since 1931 and featured in every single one of his country's four games against France and Germany, so he not only will be a guaranteed starter against England, but having faced quite a few of these players when Ajax battled Tottenham, will be already well acquainted with some of the Three Lions' key personnel.
What are the odds of the Netherlands winning the 2019 UEFA Nations League?
All four teams have a great chance - obviously if they didn't, they certainly would not have gotten this far. England will naturally be a tricky opponent, as the Three Lions had an excellent World Cup campaign and followed that up with a solid showing in their own Nations League group stage affair as they saw off both Spain and Croatia, the latter of which surprised the world by making it all the way to the final last summer.
However, the Netherlands haven't had the best of luck when it comes to clinching silverware. So far, Holland have won just one major title, and that was the EUROs in 1988. They've had to settle for three runners-up berths at three World Cups, so they will hope to end that frustrating run and get a spot on the winners podium this June. They do have some strong odds in their favor, but the same could be said about any of these four teams featuring, and it will certainly be a very interesting semi-finals clash between the Netherlands and England next month, with the winner facing the victor of the Portugal-Switzerland tie.
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