Netherlands vs. Turkey: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream & TV Info
The Netherlands welcome Turkey to the Amsterdam Arena on Saturday evening in a bid to boost their Euro 2016 qualification chances and close in on the Czech Republic's lead at the summit of Group A.
Both teams were victorious in their most recent qualification outings, with Guus Hiddink's Oranje claiming a 6-0 win over Latvia, while Fatih Terim's Crescent Stars defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 back in November.
Just two points separate the Netherlands and Turkey coming into what Hiddink will consider a must-win home fixture for his side, having lost two of their four qualifying matches thus far.
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The clutch encounter promises to yield massive benefits to the victor, with full viewing details, team news and predicted lineups discussed in further detail ahead.
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT, 3:45 p.m. ET
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), Fox Soccer2GO (US)
TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK), Fox Sports 2 (US)
Team News
Hiddink will be without the services of established trio Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Ron Vlaar for this weekend's fixture, leaving the Netherlands with a youthful crop of healthy stars.
Van Persie and Robben suffered ankle and abdominal injuries, respectively, but reinstated captain Wesley Sneijder told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts) his side still have what it takes to overcome the Turks:
"We can also get a good result without Arjen and Robin. Although you don't need a degree in maths to know that their absence is a bit of a blow. Arjen and Robin show week after week that they are among the best players in the world at Bayern Munich and Manchester United, respectively.
So they will obviously be missed. Just like the absence of Ron Vlaar is a blow for us. But I have been in situations like this before, so I know it does not help to think about it too much. We will do everything within our power to beat Turkey.
I don't feel any extra pressure because of their absence, but there is some added responsibility. It will now be up to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Nigel de Jong and myself to support the younger players.
"
That duo alone account for four of the 10 goals the Netherlands have netted in qualifying thus far, putting extra weight on the shoulders of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Memphis Depay to succeed on Saturday.
OptaJohan illustrates just what a blow Robben's absence will be in the provisional sense, too, pointing out that creation from their sources out wide is something the Dutch will have to make up for:
Meanwhile, Wolfsburg's heavy hitter Bas Dost is in line for a potential international debut. Of the in-form attacker, Hiddink was quoted by The Associated Press (h/t USA Today) as saying, "Bas had a difficult first half of the season before Christmas," adding that in 2015, "every ball he touches flies in."
Vlaar's absence could be the most crippling for the Netherlands, as the centre-back looks to come back from a calf injury, with Stefan de Vrij, Jeffrey Bruma, Joel Veltman and Bruno Martins Indi each just 23 years of age.
| 1 | Czech Republic | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 12 |
| 2 | Iceland | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 9 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 6 |
| 4 | Turkey | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 |
| 5 | Latvia | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | −9 | 2 |
| 6 | Kazakhstan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 1 |
Turkey, meanwhile, will have to make do without star winger Arda Turan, who serves a one-match suspension after being booked for simulation against Kazakhstan.
Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz believes his side can pull through without the midfield maestro, however, per Eurosport (h/t TurkishFootball.com): “Arda is a key player in the team, he is going to be a big miss for us but I still believe we can win."
Terim has come upon good news, however, after Turkish Football reported that right-back Gokhan Gonul should be fit to feature, along with Serdar Aziz, Yilmaz, Selcuk Inan, Hakan Balta and Mehmet Topal, who were all doubts.
Bayer Leverkusen starlet Hakan Calhanoglu is also back in the Turkey squad following a bizarre controversy with team-mate Gokhan Tore, per The Guardian's Emre Sarigul, and could make his third international start.
Predicted Lineups
Netherlands (4-4-1-1)
Jasper Cillessen; Gregory van der Wiel, Jetro Willems, Stefan de Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi; Daley Blind, Wesley Sneijder, Ibrahim Afellay, Georginio Wijnaldum; Memphis Depay; Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Turkey (4-3-1-2)
Volkan Babacan; Gokhan Gonul, Caner Erkin, Mehmet Topal, Serdar Aziz; Selcuk Inan, Ozan Tufan, Gokhan Tore; Hakan Calhanoglu; Umut Bulut, Burak Yilmaz
