Ronald Koeman believes it is unrealistic to expect his Netherlands side to play high-pressing, 'total football' for 90 minutes in the hot conditions they will encounter at the World Cup.

The Oranje will open their Group F campaign against Japan in Arlington in June 14, before taking on Sweden in Houston six days later.

Both AT&T Stadium and NRG Stadium – their first two venues – feature retractable roofs and should be protected from the worst of the hot summer weather, but their final group game against Tunisia will be played in Kansas City, where hot and humid weather is likely.

The Netherlands will face Algeria and Uzbekistan in pre-tournament friendlies on Wednesday and Monday, with the former taking place on home soil in Amsterdam.

And while Koeman would prefer to see his team play with intensity and press their opponents back, he knows they may have to make adjustments at times. 

"We need to let the players recognise how we can solve the opponent's pressure with three or four defenders, by creating the extra man, making depth between the lines, depth without the ball," Koeman said.

"These are all things that can be improved. You give attention to that, and then you're only talking about your own ball possession. 

"You also pay attention to applying pressure, although I don't believe that with the heat in America it is possible to put pressure on the opponent for 90 minutes. But it is important to recognise this compared to the opponents."

A record of six wins and two draws saw the Netherlands edge out Poland in their UEFA qualification group, and they achieved those results with an easy-on-the-eye style.

Only Norway (37) and Belgium (29) bettered their 27 goals in the UEFA qualification groups, while only four teams won possession in the final third more often than their 48.

Koeman's side also ranked fifth for successful passes, with 4,558, while they also had a 66.2% average possession share.

Reflecting on their tactical approach, Koeman added: "We prefer to have the ball for ninety minutes and determine things, but that's not always the case in football. 

"If you don't have the ball, you have to be able to solve it and defend it well. Then you know that with the quality and speed we have up front and in midfield, we have a big weapon."

Koeman has also taken the Netherlands back to using a 4-3-3 formation after they regularly played a back three under Louis van Gaal, and he plans to stick with that shape. 

"I still think that if you talk about your own ball possession, you get opponents into much more trouble by playing with four men at the back than when you mirror them," Koeman said.