Netherlands National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Malen · Verbruggen · van Dijk · van de Ven · de Ligt · Maatsen · Frimpong · Veerman · Schouten · Depay · Simons

The Red Devils look to win the ball back high up the pitch with a high press. Using a 3-4-3, the Netherlands intends to play a vertical game that breaks the line through quick passing. This formation is built to catch opponents on the transition and stretch the defence with wide players to create space in the middle.

Verbruggen plays from the back to start the build up. The defensive unit consists of a back three featuring van de Ven, van Dijk, and de Ligt. van Dijk is dominant in the air and uses his strength to organize the line. van de Ven provides the pace to cover when the team plays a high line, while de Ligt acts as a ball playing defender to play out from the back. They work together to defend zonally and squeeze the space to prevent opposition players from turning.

In the middle of the pitch, Schouten and Veerman operate as a double pivot to protect the back three. Schouten sits deep to deny the pivot of the opposition, while Veerman looks to carry the ball forward and connect the lines. Maatsen and Frimpong provide the width, acting as wide players who can overlap the winger to deliver crosses. This allows the central duo to control the tempo and recycle possession while they wait for the attackers to make runs.

The front three consists of Simons, Depay, and Malen. Malen acts as a pressing centre-forward to trigger a press against the opposition back line. Simons and Depay act as inverted wingers who cut inside to find space in the half-spaces. They look to create combinations in tight spaces or hit in behind on the transition. The movement is designed to use the wide presence of Maatsen and Frimpong to get to the byline and cut it back for the players arriving late into the box.

One major advantage for the Netherlands is the speed of transition when they win it back high up the pitch. The lineup allows for wide overloads because Maatsen and Frimpong can push high and overlap. This creates a numerical superiority in the attacking third and forces the opposition to shift constantly. The team can also press in pairs to force a long ball from the opposition and win the second ball.

This 3-4-3 formation relies on high energy and vertical passing to overwhelm opponents. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defenders.