The Netherlands face a crucial double encounter with Hungary this week and the vice world champions have injury troubles. Captain Mark van Bommel will not be present.
The Netherlands are on top of Group E with the maximum score of twelve points from the first four matches in the Euro 2012 Qualification campaign. Hungary are second with nine points from four matches and if the Maygars want to stay in contention for first place they will have to grab points against the Orange squad.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk will not only miss Van Bommel, but also striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, winger Arjen Robben goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, defensive midfielder Hedwiges Maduro and playmaker Theo Janssen. Because of Huntelaar’s absence Hamburger SV’s Ruud van Nistelrooy will be back in the squad. FC Twente’s Luuk de Jong, PSV’s Jeremain Lens and AZ’s Stijn Schaars are the other replacements. Utrecht-goalkeeper Michel Vorm will be Stekelenburg’s stand-in and 40-year-old Sander Boschker (Twente) was called into the squad as second goalkeeper.

Van Nistelrooy is on 34 international goals and needs one more to enter the top 3 all-time goalscorers for the Netherlands, equalling Faas Wilkes’ career total of 35 goals. Only Patrick Kluivert (40) and Dennis Bergkamp (37) have scored more goals. However Van Nistelrooy will probably start on the bench because Van Marwijk has faith in Arsenal’s Robin van Persie as target man. The Dutch probable 4-2-3-1 lineup will be: Vorm, Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Pieters, De Jong, Van der Vaart, Kuijt, Sneijder en Afellay, Van Persie.

The Netherlands and Hungary have some history against each other. The Dutch won six of 13 international matches against the Maygars including the last five encounters. Hungary won two and the match ended in a draw five times. Hungary’s last win over the Netherlands dates back to October 1984, when they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in World Cup Qualifying. Their last home win over the Dutch came in May 1967 in European Championship Qualifying; Hungary – Netherlands 2-1.

Five players have scored twice for Holland against Hungary: Tonny van der Linden, Leen Vente, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Rijkaard and Arjen Robben. Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Mark van Bommel and Eljero Elia can join this list if they score one more goal against Hungary.

Hungary are currently on a 5-match winning streak after losing after losing 4 in a row between May and September 2010. The last time they won six in a row was between September 1984 and May 1985 under coach György Mezey, a streak that was ended by a 1-0 World Cup Qualifying defeat against The Netherlands in Budapest in May 1985.

On Friday Hungary will rely on PSV forward Balázs Dzsudzsák, who is the Most Valuable Player in the Dutch league this season on 15 goals and 13 assists.