Netherlands Vs Finland: Oranje Team Ready To Break Huuhkajat's Dream To The World Cup

Tijjani Reijnders, the first option in midfield of the Netherlands (photo: x @T_Reijnders)

JAKARTA - The Netherlands will host Finland in Amsterdam on Sunday 12 October in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers Group G. The Oranje team has a target of strengthening their position at the top of the standings. Oranje is currently three points ahead of Poland and Finland, and the win will bring them closer to the finals next year.

After a slightly shaky performance at the international break in September, the Netherlands returned to the midweek winning path by beating Malta four goals without reply to the team they previously beat 8-0 earlier this year.

Cody Gakpo became a star with two goals from the penalty spot, one assist for Tijjani Reijnders, and one additional goal which was disallowed due to offside. The victory brought the Netherlands back to lead Group G with a three-point advantage, although their game was not yet fully at the highest level.

The result restored confidence after a less convincing period last month, when they drew with Poland and were almost humiliated by Lithuania before a narrow 3-2 win at the National Office of the Republic of Indonesia. Now, the victory over Finland will ensure a big step towards qualifying, as well as get rid of his opponent from competition.

On the other hand, Finland came to the Johan Cruijff Arena with great pressure. The Huuhkajat nicknamed team needed a win to keep their chances of qualifying for their first World Cup in history. However, the meeting record is not in favor of Finland: they have lost five times in a row to the Netherlands, including a 0-2 defeat at home last June.

Finland are now in third place in the standings, having played one game more than the Netherlands and Poland, and have had a worse goal difference. Since being taken over by Denmark coach Jacob Friis in January, they have appeared inconsistent. After winning over Malta, they have only won four points from the next three matches, and a 1-3 defeat to Poland last month put their position at risk.

In the last match, Finland managed to win 2-1 over Lithuania through goals from Benjamin Kallman and Adam Markhiyev, but their performance is still far from stable.

The Dutch coach, Ronald Koeman, is likely to return to field Memphis Depay as a starter after previously playing Wout Weghorst against Malta. Depay, who just joined the team due to fitness, scored in the final minute and now has eight goals contributed throughout qualifying. He is predicted to play alongside Cody Gakpo and Jeremie Frimpong upfront.

Koeman did not summon several players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Teun Koopmeiners, Sem Steijn, and Noa Lang, while young striker AZ Alkmaar Mexx Meerdink who had been called up as Depay and Weghorst had to be sidelined due to injury.

Donyell Malen of Aston Villa, who has scored 10 goals in 27 appearances as a substitute, is also another attacking option for the Netherlands.

Finland will appear without main defender Robert Ivanov who is suspended, as well as two important injured players: captain Lukas Hradecky and veteran midfielder Rasmus Schuller.

Hradecky's place under the bar is likely filled by Viljami Sinisalo (Celtic) or Jesse Joronen (Parmo), while striker Joel Pohjanpalo, Joronen's team-mate at the club, is expected to lead the front line.

Although only three points adrift in the standings, the Netherlands still far ahead in terms of the quality and depth of the squad. Finland had indeed beaten Poland surprisingly, but with 11 defeats since the beginning of last year, they seem difficult to withstand the onslaught of the Oranje attack this time.

Estimated Lineup Of Players

Netherlands (4-3-3):Verbruggen;Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Frimpong, Depay, Gakpo.

Finland (4-3-3):Joronen; Alho, Tenho, Koski, Uronen; Lod, Kairinen, Markhiyev; Kallman, Pohjanpalo, Antman.

Score Prediction: Netherlands 2-0 Finland