Netherlands National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Aké · Timber · van de Ven · van Dijk · Malen · Depay · X. Simons · Gravenberch · Reijnders · F. de Jong · Verbruggen

The Netherlands aims to win the ball high up the pitch and hit in behind on the transition using a 5-2-3. This formation is built to play with a high press and quick verticality to catch the opposition out of position. The Oranje want to control the tempo through central players while using the width of the pitch to stretch the defence.

Verbruggen plays behind a defensive unit that functions as a back three during the buildup. van Dijk acts as the right centre-back with his passing range and aerial strength to win the header and start attacks. Gravenberch holds the middle spot of the back three to provide stability. van de Ven plays as the left centre-back and uses his speed to cover the space behind the line. Timber and Aké act as attacking wing backs who push high to provide width. Aké can tuck in to form a back four when the team defends in a mid-block.

The midfield operates as a double pivot to control the center of the pitch. F. de Jong plays as one of the two midfielders with his press resistance and ability to hold the ball under pressure. He connects the defensive and attacking lines by dropping deep to receive. Reijnders works alongside him to drive forward with the ball and arrive late into the box. This pairing helps to recycle possession and prevents the opposition from playing through the lines.

Up front, the team uses three attackers to press from the front and pin the last defender. Depay acts as the striker to find the feet of the striker and hold up the ball. Malen and X. Simons play as wide attackers who cut inside to create chances. Malen pushes high to overlap the winger when Timber moves into the half-space. X. Simons looks to exploit the space between the full back and centre-back to play through the lines. The front three work to trigger a press as soon as the ball is lost.

One major strength of this Netherlands lineup is the ability to create wide overloads. When Timber and Aké push forward, they force the opposition wide and create space for the wingers to cut inside. Another advantage is the speed of transition. With van de Ven and van Dijk able to win the ball and pass quickly, the team can break quickly and catch opponents. The combination of a solid back three and a mobile midfield makes them hard to break down.

This 5-2-3 formation provides a balance of defensive solidity and attacking width. It is best suited for matches against teams that play with a high line or struggle to track runners in wide areas.