The Dutch national team starts on Saturday with Mark Flek and Stefan de Vrij in the base of the Nations League match in De Kuip against Poland. The line-up is also the same as a week ago against Belgium, while star player Robert Lewandowski is missing from Poland.
Lineup Orange
- flecks; Timber, De Vrij, Ake; Dumfries, Klaassen, Berghuis, De Jong, Blind; Mountain wine, Memphis
Poland lineup
- Skorupski; Cash, Bednarek, Kiwior Bereszynski; Frankowski, Goralski, Krychowiak, Zalewski; Zielinski, Piatek
Fleks also played against Wales last Wednesday and can start again against Poland. Jasper Cillessen is therefore on the bench. The experienced Valencia goalkeeper will play in the home game against Wales on Tuesday.
De Vrij also retains his starting spot after the 1-2 victory over Wales. Against Belgium, captain Virgil van Dijk still played in the central position at the back; he was then given time off after a long season. Nathan Aké and Jurriën Timber are the other defenders against Poland, while Matthijs de Ligt has to take place on the bench in De Kuip.
Memphis Depay wears the captain’s armband of Orange under Van Gaal for the first time in the absence of Van Dijk and the passed Georginio Wijnaldum. De Vrij was captain against Wales.
Noa Lang and Nathan Aké get off the bus in front of De Kuip.
Noa Lang and Nathan Aké get off the bus in front of De Kuip. Photo: Getty Images
Lewandowski gets rest
It is striking that Noa Lang does not belong to the match selection, which may consist of only 23 players. Away against Wales, the attacker still had a base place. Vincent Janssen is also in the stands, because he only joined after the international match against Wales; the striker will start Tuesday’s home game against Wales.
In Poland, captain Lewandowski is missing, because he gets rest. The top striker is also not on the bench. The 33-year-old captain – record international and all-time top scorer in Poland – will participate again on Tuesday against Belgium.
The Netherlands-Poland starts on Saturday at 8.45 pm in De Kuip in Rotterdam and is led by Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler.
Nations League program Orange in June
- June 3 in Brussels: Belgium-Netherlands 1-4
- June 8 in Cardiff: Wales-Netherlands 1-2
- June 11 in Rotterdam: Netherlands-Poland
- June 14 in Rotterdam: Netherlands-Wales