Euro 2020 team profile: Group C – Netherlands and Ukraine
Post Credit – MC Nitro
NETHERLANDS
Head coach: Frank De Boer
Captain: Virgil van Dijk (out injured)
Most capped player: Wesley Sneijder (134)
Top scorer: Robin van Persie (50)
FIFA ranking: 16
European Championship appearances: 10 (first in 1976)
Best run: Champions in 1988
Group rivals: Ukraine, Austria, and North Macedonia
Key players: Memphis Depay, Daley Blind, Georginio Wijnaldum, Luuk De Jong, Quincy Promes, Frenkie De Jong, Mathijs De Ligt.
Status: The Oranje are making their first appearance in a major competition since 2014 having missed out on the 2016 European Championship and the 2018 World Cup in Russia, their longest absence from a major competition since the mid-80s when they marked their return by winning Euro ’88.
Since their terrific World Cup run in Brazil in 2014, the Flying Dutchmen have struggled to make any meaningful impact in the world and European football.
Can they redeem their image in this year’s finals? They have to go past Austria, debutants, North Macedonia, and a reborn Ukraine in group C for a start. They will have to do that without their talismanic captain, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
Verdict: Expect them to make it to the knockout stages.
Status: Ukraine have found some consistency under the new head coach and national hero, Andriy Shevchenko. They had a brilliant qualifying run with 6 wins and 2 draws with no loss.
They will be looking to qualifying round’s top scorer, Andriy Yarmolenko for inspiration as they seek to make it through to the knockout stages of the Euros for the first time in their history. With their current form, one cannot doubt their ability to go through this time around.
Verdict: Expect them to join the Netherlands in the knockout rounds.
