FIXTURES:
Tonight, November 16@10:45pm:
The Netherlands v Norway
Montenegro v Turkey
Wales v Belgium
Finland v France
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Ukraine
Czech Republic v Estonia
Gibraltar v Latvia
NETHERLANDS: It will be a tense 90 minutes for Dutch national football team fans tonight when The Netherlands play Norway in a match they need to avoid defeat and seal their slot at the World Cup finals in Qatar next year.
Kick-off is 10:45pm Ugandan time. Coach Luis Van Gaal’s Dutch Orange had their World Cup ticket firmly in their grasps last Saturday as they led Montenegro 2-0 with ten minutes left to play. However, they fell apart and Montenegro fought back to earn a 2-2 draw, throwing The Netherlands into a tricky situation in the last game of the qualifiers.
The Netherlands now go into the final game against Norway with three possibilities; direct qualification as group winners, the playoffs, or worst-case scenario, no World Cup.
A win or draw for the Netherlands will be enough to seal a place at next year’s tournament. However, if Norway wins, then the Netherlands would be out if Turkey defeats Montenegro. If Norway wins and Turkey fails to beat Montenegro, the Netherlands would go into the playoffs.
Norway goes into the game on the back of a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Latvia in their last game, and they will know only a victory can confirm their place in the World Cup.
The game will be played in an empty stadium after the Netherlands increased their coronavirus restrictions in the past week. Van Gaal will be coaching the Netherlands in a wheelchair after injuring his hip during the week.
TEAM NEWS
Netherlands are without Stefan de Vrij after he was injured in the draw against Montenegro. He is likely to be replaced in the centre of defence by Matthijs de Ligt. Justin Bijlow has also left the squad with an issue, meaning Mark Flekken could make his Netherlands debut.
Van Gaal may put Steven Bergwijn into the starting line-up after Donyell Malen failed to impress on Saturday.
Norway are without their star player Erling Haaland, but they still have a talented squad with former Heerenveen and Vitesse loanee Martin Odegaard the standout in midfield.
Feyenoord right-back Marcus Holgrem Pedersen should start the game, while his club teammate Frederik Aursnes is likely to be on the bench, along with Frederik Midtsjo of AZ Alkmaar.