Preview: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Netherlands – prediction, team news, lineups

Playing only for personal pride in the final round of UEFA Nations League group fixtures, the Netherlands and Bosnia-Herzegovina finish League A Group 3 on Tuesday evening in Zenica.

Ronald Koeman‘s men thumped Hungary 4-0 on Saturday to confirm their second-placed finish, while their hosts were subjected to their heaviest-ever defeat in a 7-0 slaughter at the hands of Germany.

Match preview

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For the third time in four Nations League campaigns, the Netherlands will be present in the knockout rounds, seeking to go one better than their runners-up finish in the 2018-19 edition while also improving on a disappointing fourth-placed ranking on home soil last year.

Koeman’s men assured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals by putting four past Hungary without reply on Saturday evening, where Wout Weghorst and Cody Gakpo both struck from the spot in the first half before Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners registered in the second.

The result at Amsterdam ArenA became almost trivial following a worrying medical emergency involving Hungary coach Adam Szalai in the first half, but medical personnel arrived on the scene in rapid time, and the former Magyars international has since provided a reassuring update from his hospital bed.

Despite the distressing circumstances, the Netherlands went about their business with professionalism to punch a second-placed finish in the section behind leaders Germany; indeed, all fates in League A Group 3 have been sealed before the final matchday.

As well as guaranteeing that they can no longer be caught by Hungary, Saturday’s success ended a three-game winless sequence for Oranje in the Nations League, but Koeman’s men have failed to triumph in either of their away matches in the 2024-25 competition so far.

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The travelling Dutch faithful should harbour few concerns about their side’s ability to end League A Group 3 on a high note in Zenica, though, as they square up to a bruised and battered Bosnia-Herzegovina outfit reeling from their heaviest-ever loss in senior men’s football.

Before Saturday’s trip to Freiburg in Germany, the Golden Lilies had never lost by more than five goals, but the history books were re-written at the Europa-Park Stadion as Florian Wirtz (2), Tim Kleindienst (2), Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane tore Sergej Barbarez‘s men to shreds.

Die Mannschaft’s merciless performance guaranteed what was almost a formality before the game; Bosnia-Herzegovina will be playing League B football during the next Nations League cycle, continuing their theme of promotion followed by immediate relegation since the inaugural 2018-19 edition.

At the time of writing, Bosnia-Herzegovina boast the worst defensive record in the whole UEFA Nations League – shipping no fewer than 16 goals in their five matches – and they have now lost 10 of their last 11 games, drawing the other one, during a truly pitiful spell of form.

That sequence includes a 5-2 Dutch drubbing at the hands of Koeman’s side on September 7, although they managed to stunt the 2010 World Cup finalists during their only previous battle on Bosnian soil, a goalless draw in the 2020-21 Nations League with just 1,600 fans present.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Nations League form:

Bosnia-Herzegovina form (all competitions):

Netherlands Nations League form:

Netherlands form (all competitions):

Team News

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To the relief of club managers everywhere, the Netherlands came through their win over Hungary without any additional fitness concerns, and Koeman will no doubt make an abundance of alterations with nothing meaningful at stake.

Liverpool trio Virgil van Dijk, Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch are prime candidates for a rest – as is injury-plagued Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong – while the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Koopmeiners and Jeremie Frimpong should all feel optimistic about their chances of starting.

The goalkeeping dilemma is also an intriguing one; 29-year-old Sparta Rotterdam shot-stopper Nick Olij is the only uncapped player in the Dutch ranks, but Mark Flekken should be the first port of call if Bart Verbruggen is afforded a break.

As for the relegated hosts, Barbarez will at least be able to welcome defender Nikola Katic back from suspension for the final matchday, but his fellow rearguard members Jusuf Gazibegovic and Nihad Mujakic both failed to make the squad for Saturday’s thrashing due to injury.

The Golden Lilies boss should not risk either man for Tuesday’s game with nothing at stake, but changes should still be afoot, as 38-year-old attacking figurehead Edin Dzeko was surprisingly named on the bench at the weekend.

The former Manchester City striker did not earn any minutes on Saturday night and should therefore be in prime condition to partner Ermedin Demirovic, but Benjamin Tahirovic – who plays his club football in the Netherlands with Ajax – should retain his place in the engine room.

Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Dedic, Katic, Bicakcic, Barisic, Burnic; Tahirovic, Huseinbasic; Hajradinovic; Dzeko, Demirovic

Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Rensch, De Ligt, De Vrij, Hato; Wieffer, Timber; Frimpong, Koopmeiners, Lang; Brobbey

We say: Bosnia-Herzegovina 0-4 Netherlands

A return to familiar territory should help Bosnia-Herzegovina shore up at the back to some degree, but the hosts were carved open time and time again by Germany and could have easily lost by more.

Even if Koeman does ring the changes as expected, the Dutch should overwhelm Barbarez’s men from the get-go and leave with an emphatic win under their belts.

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