Netherlands plans dress rehearsal for starting XI
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman plans to use Tuesday's (AEST) friendly against Uzbekistan in New York as an opportunity for his first-choice line-up to have a proper dress rehearsal ahead of its opening 2026 FIFA World Cup clash against Japan next week.
The rest of the Oranje squad will play a second unofficial game against the Uzbeks straight after the first, made up of two 35-minute halves, Koeman announced on Monday (AEST).
“We want to use the first match to make as few changes as possible. We have to wait and see if that works,” he revealed at a press conference ahead of the clash at Ichan Stadium.
“We are going to play the first match largely with our starting team. It is also good for guys who are not 100 per cent fit who can then play in the second match. That is why we are playing two matches.
"We have 26 players and everyone gets minutes to play. That's what you want."
A decision still needs to be made regarding defender Jurrien Timber, who only joined the squad late last week after playing for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain on 31 May (AEST).
It was Timber’s first outing since March after struggling with a groin injury and there remains concern over his fitness.
“If he trains and is fully fit, he always makes a good impression. That hasn't been the case every day, so we have to make a decision,” Koeman said.
“He participated in training and we are going to sit down with the doctor and Jurrien ... to see whether he is going to start or not."
Netherlands opens its Group F campaign against Japan in Dallas next Monday (AEST). Uzbekistan takes on Colombia on 18 June (AEST) in Group K.
