Preview: Netherlands vs. Georgia - prediction, team news, lineups

The Netherlands will complete their preparations for Euro 2020 with a friendly against Georgia at De Grolsch Veste in Enschede on Sunday evening.

Frank de Boer's side played out a 2-2 draw with Scotland in their last match on Wednesday, while Georgia will enter the contest off the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 success away to Romania.

Match preview

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Memphis Depay scored twice for the Netherlands in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Scotland, and it would be fair to say that it was a far from convincing performance from De Boer's side.

It is difficult to know exactly what to expect from Holland at Euro 2020, but it would be a huge shock if they failed to reach the knockout rounds considering the strength of their group.

Indeed, the Netherlands have been placed in Group C alongside Austria, North Macedonia and Ukraine, and Oranje should have enough to reach the knockout stage of the competition for the first time since 2008.

Holland were victorious at Euro 1988 and have also finished third on four occasions - 1976, 1992, 2000 and 2004 - but they famously failed to qualify for Euro 2016 and went out in the group stages of Euro 2012, meaning that it has been an underwhelming period for the nation at this level.

De Boer will be looking for a morale-boosting win over Georgia on Sunday before his side open their Euro 2020 campaign against Ukraine in Amsterdam on June 13.

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Georgia, as mentioned, will be in a confident mood heading into this encounter, as they recorded a 2-1 win over Romania on Wednesday evening courtesy of goals from Georges Mikautadze and Giorgi Aburjania.

The Crusaders have never qualified for the finals of a European Championship, so it was not a surprise when they failed to progress to the finals of the 2020 competition.

Georgia suffered a 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia in the final of the playoffs in November, but they do appear to be heading firmly in the right direction, having given Sweden and Spain tough matches this year in their 2022 World Cup qualification section, in addition to drawing 1-1 with Greece.

Willy Sagnol's side will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins on Sunday in their first ever match with the Netherlands before turning their attention to their next competitive match against Kosovo in September.

Team News

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Netherlands boss De Boer is expected to make a number of changes to the side that started against Scotland, with Memphis potentially dropping down to the bench in order to protect him for their Euro 2020 opener.

Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek should feature in the middle of the park, while Ryan Gravenberch, Patrick van Aanholt, Quincy Promes and Joel Veltman could all come in.

There might also be a change between the sticks, with the experienced Maarten Stekelenburg featuring, while Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt and Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong should both be involved.

As for Georgia, Solomon Kverkvelia will serve a suspension due to the red card that he picked up in the 2-1 win over Romania on Wednesday night.

Head coach Sagnol is also expected to make changes for his side's second friendly in relatively quick succession, with Saba Lobzhanidze, Guram Kashia and Budu Zivzivadze potentially coming in for starts.

Kashia could win his 87th cap in the middle of the away team's defence, while Aburjania and Murtaz Daushvili should retain their positions in midfield.

Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg; Veltman, De Ligt, De Vrij, Van Aanholt; Van de Beek, Gravenberch, F de Jong; Berghuis, Weghorst, Promes

Georgia possible starting lineup:
Loria; Kakabadze, Kashia, Khocholava, Giorbelidze; Shengelia, Kvekveskiri, Daushvili, Aburjania, Lobzhanidze; Zivzivadze

We say: Netherlands 2-1 Georgia

Georgia are certainly capable of making this an uncomfortable match for the home team, who are expected to make wholesale changes for their final match before Euro 2020. However, the Netherlands should have enough to secure a narrow victory at De Grolsch Veste.