Netherlands National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Verbruggen · van de Ven · van Hecke · Hato · Timber · de Jong · Gravenberch · Smit · Gakpo · Summerville · Xavi Simons

The Netherlands focuses on a high press and rapid transitions using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball back high up the pitch and strike quickly before the opposition can regroup. The Oranje aim to use the width of the pitch to stretch the defence and create gaps in the central areas.

Verbruggen acts as the last line of defence in goal. The defensive unit sits in a back five that can shift depending on where the ball is. de Jong holds the centre of the line to command the area and win the second ball. van Hecke and van de Ven provide strength in the middle, with van de Ven using his pace to cover large spaces behind the line. Hato and Timber operate as attacking wing backs to provide width. Timber pushes high to overlap the winger while Hato provides balance on the left. This back five stays compact to deny the turn to strikers.

A double pivot controls the centre of the pitch to connect the defence and attack. Gravenberch acts as a carrier who can drive forward with the ball to break the line. Smit works alongside him to press aggressively and win the ball in a mid-block. Gravenberch uses his ball carrying ability to move the team up the pitch. The two midfielders must cover a lot of ground to prevent the opposition from playing through the lines. They often drop deep to help the centre backs play out from the back when the press is broken.

The attack relies on three forwards to pin the last defender and force long balls. Xavi Simons plays as a mobile striker who often drops into the pockets to link up play. Gakpo and Summerville act as wide attackers who look to cut inside and create goal scoring chances. Gakpo uses his strength to hold up the ball and lay it off to oncoming runners. Summerville looks to isolate his marker in one on one situations on the right flank. This front three works together to press from the front and force the opposition to play wide.

This formation offers great width through the wing backs Timber and Hato. Such positioning creates wide overloads that force the opposition to shift and leave spaces in the middle. The Netherlands also benefits from the ability to press high in coordinated waves with the front three and the double pivot. Having three players high up the pitch allows for quick transitions to hit in behind on the transition.

The 5-2-3 formation provides a way to control space while remaining lethal on the break. It is a formation best suited for matches against teams that struggle to handle high pressure and wide runners.