Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal says he wants his side to show a winning mentality when they face Wales in the Nations League on Tuesday evening (Netherlands 1/2, Draw 10/3, Wales 6/1 – Match Result).
The Netherlands have continued to grow in confidence under Van Gaal, with the Dutch team picking up seven points from their first three games. Wales managed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, but they have struggled in the Nations League due to the packed fixture list.
Injuries and withdrawals have disrupted Robert Page’s plans ahead of kick-off, with Kieffer Moore, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Neco Williams, Danny Ward, Joe Morrell and Joe Allen all unavailable.
Van Gaal and his team will be showing no signs of sympathy, though, and with the World Cup on the horizon, the former Manchester United coach wants his team to extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches.
He told UEFA: “Winning is very important in the lead up to a World Cup. I really don’t want us to lose. Now we are top of our Nations League group. Also, in terms of head-to-head results result against Belgium, I don’t see them beating us 4-1. That said, the process is more important than qualifying for the next round of the Nations League.”
Latest Football Betting Events
Elsewhere in League A, Germany will host Italy (Germany 4/5, Draw 11/4, Italy 10/3 – Match Result) in Monchengladbach. Germany trail their old rivals by two points in Group C, the same group that contains England and Hungary.
After failing to qualify for this year’s World Cup, Italy have responded in style, and they will want to end the international break on a high by avoiding defeat under Roberto Mancini.
Poland and Belgium meet in Warsaw at 19:45, while at 17:00, Scotland travel to Armenia (Armenia 11/2, Draw 11/4, Scotland 4/7 – Match Result).
Steve Clarke’s side have hit a flat spot of late, with their eight-match unbeaten run now a thing of the past after they failed to qualify for Qatar.
They were beaten 3-0 by the Republic of Ireland at the weekend, and Stephen Kenny’s troops also return to action, this time against Ukraine (Ukraine 4/5, Draw 12/5, Republic of Ireland 19/5 – Match Result).
