Win or Bust for Netherlands

The last few years have been tough for the Netherlands and they are at crisis point once more as they travel to Belarus for a crucial World Cup qualifying match.

Having finished fourth in their qualifying group for the 2016 European Championship and failing to reach the finals for the first time since 1984, Netherlands find themselves in a similar position in World Cup Qualifying Group A.

The Dutch have qualified for six of the last seven World Cup tournaments, including each of the last three and it wold be another huge blow if they did not make it to Russia next year.

Netherlands make the trip to Belarus sitting third in Group A, having won 13 points from a possible 24 available. They sit 3 points behind second place Sweden and 4 points behind group leaders France.

With Bulgaria just a point behind in fourth place, there is also the possibility Netherlands could drop a place in the group if they fail to win this game, so the pressure is on the Dutch team.

Trends show Netherlands have been very inconsistent during this qualifying campaign and have failed to win back-to-back matches.  For example, following the 4-1 home victory over upcoming opponents Belarus, Netherlands lost 1-0 in France.  They then defeated Luxembourg 3-1 away from home only to lose 2-0 in Bulgaria.

There was then a comfortable home win against Luxembourg, followed by defeat against France and a win over Bulgaria.  Netherlands cannot string two wins together and this has cost them in the group.

Belarus start this match bottom of Group A with 5 points from their eight games played. It has been a disappointing campaign and despite having them same number of points as Luxembourg, Belarus have a worse goal difference.

Belarus have lost their last three games, two of which were in this group against Luxembourg and Sweden and the other was a loss on penalties to Thailand in a friendly match.  They have won only one match in 2018 World Cup qualifying which came at home against Bulgaria.

The only points Belarus have won have come in home games and they started with a good 0-0 draw with France and picked up a point in a 1-1 draw with Luxembourg.  Therefore, Belarus will be pleased this game is at home as they have failed to pick up any points on the road.

At home, Belarus have lost only two of their previous seven World Cup qualifying games and will be hoping to give their fans something to shout about in what has been a disappointing campaign overall.

However, Belarus are without the suspended duo of Egor Filipenko and Nikita Korzun.  They will also be missing Pavel Savitski, Mikhail Gordeichuk and Alyaksandr Martynovich due to injury.

Netherlands travel without defenders Bruno Martins Indi and Stefan de Vrij who are missing due to injury.  Kevin Strootman returns from suspension and will play in the centre of midfield along with Georginio Wijnaldum.

Netherlands need to attack and score goals because not only is a win important but so is their goal difference.  This could mean opportunities at the other end for Belarus to score.  Netherlands have kept one clean sheet in this group and even though they should win this game, the victory could come without a clean sheet.