Poland vs Netherlands
European Championship this season
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'We are not afraid,’ Probierz says ahead of Poland vs. Netherlands.
Poland aim to defy the odds and upset the Netherlands in a thrilling Group D clash at Euro 2024's opening matchday, despite missing star forward Robert Lewandowski and facing a daunting 12-game winless streak against the formidable Dutch side.
Poland
Poland will begin their Euro 2024 outing with a challenging fixture against the Netherlands in Group D, which also includes Austria and France. Although the Poles seem overshadowed by Sunday's opponents, Michał Probierz can count on experienced players like Robert Lewandowski, Wojciech Szczesny, Jakub Kiwior, and Piotr Zielinski.
The team secured their spot at the Euros through the play-offs, after overcoming Estonia and Wales, finishing third in Group E during the qualifying round. Ahead of Euro 2024, Poland has remained unbeaten in five games, with a notable recent 2-1 victory over Turkey.
Having exited at the group stage in the last tournament, Poland aims to at least match their best performance of a quarterfinal finish in 2016. They'll be eager to outplay the Netherlands, despite a 12-game winless streak against the Dutch (0W, 5D, 7L).
‘We have respect for the Netherlands, but we are not afraid of them,’ Probierz stated in a pre-match press conference. He expressed confidence in their strategy, likely employing a 3—5—2 formation with Karol Świderski and Krzysztof Piątek leading the attack. Unfortunately, Robert Lewandowski will miss the opener due to a thigh injury sustained in the win over Turkey.
Netherlands
The Netherlands, one-time European champions in 1988, have won four of their last five games, maintaining clean sheets in all but a 2-1 loss to Germany [WWLWW]. Unlike Poland, they encountered no issues during the qualifying round, finishing as runners-up in Group B, with six wins from eight games [6W, 0D, 2L].
This marks the Netherlands' 11th UEFA Euro appearance. They boast a flamboyant squad, including Nathan Aké, Virgil van Dijk, and Inter’s Denzel Dumfries, under the guidance of manager Ronald Koeman, who is enjoying his second spell with the national team.
Due to injuries, Koeman included Ian Maatsen and the highly sought-after Joshua Zirkzee as replacements for Teun Koopmeiners. On Sunday, Koeman, a member of the 1988 Euro-winning squad, will aim to lead his team to their first win at Euro 2024, employing the well-regarded 4—2—3—1 formation with Memphis Depay in attack.
Team form
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Team Comparison
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