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

Netherlands will be looking to move above Turkey to the top of Group G when the two teams continue their World Cup 2022 qualification campaigns in Amsterdam on Tuesday night.

Turkey are currently top of the section with 11 points to show from their first five matches, while the Netherlands occupy second position in the group, one point behind their opponents here.

Match preview

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Netherlands famously failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and Louis van Gaal's side are certainly in a battle in Group G, with Turkey and Norway both impressing in the qualification section.

A record of three wins, one draw and one defeat from five matches has seen Holland collect 10 points, which has left them ahead of third-placed Norway on goal difference but one point behind section leaders Turkey.

The three-time World Cup finalists were held to a 1-1 draw by Norway on Wednesday night but returned to winning ways in impressive fashion on Saturday, putting four answered goals past Montenegro in Eindhoven.

Memphis Depay netted twice for Oranje, while Georginio Wijnaldum and Cody Gakpo were also on the scoresheet during a strong display, and Van Gaal's side will now be looking to beat Turkey to move to the top of the group entering the final straight.

In terms of what is ahead, Netherlands will take on Latvia and Gibraltar in their next two qualifiers in October before travelling to Montenegro and hosting Norway in their final two matches in November.

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Turkey, meanwhile, will enter Tuesday's clash off the back of a 3-0 win over Gibraltar on Saturday; all three goals came in the second period, with Halil Dervisoglu, Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Karaman coming off the bench to find the back of the net.

There is no getting away from the fact that the Crescent-Stars disappointed at Euro 2020, losing all three of their group-stage matches, scoring just once and conceding eight times in the process.

Senol Gunes's side sit at the top of Group G, though, having collected 11 points from their five matches, including impressive victories over the Netherlands and Norway back in March, but they have disappointingly been held by Latvia and Montenegro in two of their last three matches.

Turkey have not qualified for the finals of a World Cup since 2002, when they finished third, but a talented squad certainly has the capabilities of securing a spot in next year's competition.

The Crescent-Stars have won their last two matches against the Netherlands, while they have not lost to Tuesday's opponents since October 2013, meaning that confidence should be high in the camp.

Team News

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Virgil van Dijk was rested for Saturday's clash with Montenegro, but the Liverpool centre-back is expected to return to the Netherlands XI on Tuesday, with Matthijs de Ligt potentially dropping out.

Denzel Dumfries should retain his spot at right-back for Holland, while there are unlikely to be any changes in midfield, with Wijnaldum set to be joined by Frenkie de Jong and Davy Klaassen.

Memphis and Gakpo were both on the scoresheet against Montenegro and will keep their spots in the final third of the field, while Steven Berghuis should hold off competition from the likes of Steven Bergwijn and Donyell Mallen to feature as part of a front three.

As for Turkey, Calhanoglu and Karaman both came off the bench to score in the win over Gibraltar on Saturday, and the trio are expected to return to the starting XI on Tuesday.

There will also be changes elsewhere, with Okay Yokuslu and Cengiz Under among those likely to return, as Gunes prepares to shuffle his pack from the side that took to the field for the first whistle at the weekend.

Burak Yilmaz will operate at the tip of the attack for the visitors, while the back four should include both Lille's Zeki Celik and Merih Demiral, who is on loan at Atalanta BC from Juventus.

Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Malacia; Wijnaldum, F de Jong, Klaassen; Berghuis, Memphis, Gakpo

Turkey possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Celik, Ayhan, Demiral, Muldur; Under, Yazici, Yokuslu, Calhanoglu, Karaman; Yilmaz

We say: Netherlands 1-1 Turkey

Netherlands were far too strong for Montenegro on Saturday, but this will be a much tougher test for Van Gaal's side. Turkey disappointed at Euro 2020 but have proved to be a very strong outfit at this level, and we are expecting the two sides to share the points in Tuesday's Group G contest.