The Netherlands and Croatia are set to face off in an eagerly anticipated UEFA Nations League semi-final clash. Despite a disappointing performance in the World Cup, the Netherlands has been in outstanding form in the Nations League, earning an impressive 16 out of 18 available points. Although they suffered a nerve-wracking defeat to Argentina in Qatar, it hasn't dampened their spirits in the Nations League, where they have defeated strong teams like Belgium, Poland, and Wales to secure a place in the final four. Now, Ronald Koeman's Dutch team is determined to overcome their final hurdle and reach the ultimate stage of the competition.
However, the 4-0 loss to France remains a concern for Koeman as he strives to find the perfect balance within his squad. The Dutch team has only lost one game at home, against Italy in December 2020, and they will be keen to maintain their unbeaten streak against an aging Croatian side. A victory against the 2018 World Cup finalists would provide a significant boost for La Oranje as they prepare for the final showdown of the tournament.
On the other hand, Croatia's golden generation has been chasing their first international silverware. After suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the 2018 World Cup final and a shocking 3-0 loss to Argentina in Qatar, they have consistently stumbled in the latter stages of tournaments. However, their victory over France in League A Group 1 has injected them with confidence as they travel to the Netherlands for the semi-finals. Despite five defeats on the road last year, Zlatco Dalic's men have turned their fortunes around in away matches, currently enjoying a three-game unbeaten streak.
Although Croatia has been impressive away from home, they must be cautious against a dominant Netherlands side that has been a force to be reckoned with in this edition of the Nations League. The clash between these two teams promises to be an exciting encounter.
Probable line-ups for the match are as follows:
Netherlands XI (4-3-3): Bijlow; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Botman, Ake; De Roon, De Jong, Wijnaldum; Bergwijn, Gakpo, Simons
The winner of this semi-final will face the winner of the other semi-final between Spain and Italy in the final of the Nations League, which is scheduled to take place on June 19th. The losing team will have another chance to secure a spot in the tournament in a match also taking place on the same date.
In conclusion, the stage is set for an exciting clash between the Netherlands and Croatia in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. Both teams have had their share of disappointments in recent tournaments but have shown resilience in this competition. The Netherlands will look to maintain their dominant form, while Croatia aims to overcome their past failures. The outcome of this match will determine who progresses to the final and gets the opportunity to compete for the prestigious Nations League title. Football fans around the world eagerly await this mouth-watering encounter.
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