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Played
February 6, 2013 7:30 PM GMT
Amsterdam ArenA — Amsterdam
Referee:‬ C. Çakιr‎
Attendance:‬ 45000‎
 

Netherlands-Italy Preview: Oranje aiming for first-ever friendly win over Azzurri

The 2010 World Cup finalists have never emerged victorious from a non-competitive tie against the surprise package of last year's European Championship

More On :  Italy, Netherlands, Netherlands vs Italy
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NETHERLANDS

Krul
Van Rhijn, De Vrij, Mathijsen, Martins Indi
Clasie, Maher, Strootman
Kuyt, Van Persie, Lens
ITALY

Buffon
Abate, Barzagli, Astori, Santon
Montolivo, Pirlo, Giaccherini
Candreva, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal will have to make do without the services of players such as Michel Vorm, Nigel de Jong, Erik Pieters and Luciano Narsingh due to injury.

Additionally, experienced players like Maarten Stekelenburg, John Heitinga, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben were all left out for various reasons.

Van Gaal is therefore expected to field a relatively inexperienced starting XI, and as many as seven players younger than 25 could feature from the start. Daley Blind, Ola John and Jonathan de Guzman could all make their Oranje debut on Wednesday.

Cesare Prandelli was dealt a bit of a blow on Monday when Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco was forced to pull out of the squad due to a thigh problem.

Furthermore, Giorgio Chiellini, Federico Balzaretti, Christian Maggio and Claudio Marchisio are unavailable due to injury as well.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Netherlands and Italy have met 17 times so far, with the Dutch coming out victorious on only three occasions.
  • Jonathan de Guzman (pictured, right) can become the second Canada-born player to make his Holland debut after John van 't Schip in 1986.
  • Robin van Persie needs only two more goals for the 2010 World Cup finalists to equal the legendary Johan Cruyff's tally of 33.
  • Italy recorded a 3-1 win over Oranje the last time these teams locked horns in the Amsterdam ArenA back in 2005, but had to settle for a 3-0 loss and a scoreless draw on the two occasions after that.
  • Captain Gianluigi Buffon is currently 13 caps short of record-holder Fabio Cannavaro, who represented the Azzurri 136 times.
  • Salvatore Sirigu, Marco Verratti (both Paris Saint-Germain) and Davide Santon (Newcastle United) are the only three players in the Italy squad who ply their trade abroad.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Netherlands 1-2 Italy
    19.48 %
  • Netherlands 2-1 Italy
    13.67 %
  • Netherlands 0-2 Italy
    10.11 %
Head to Head
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Feb 6, 2013 Netherlands 1 - Italy 1
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International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Nov 14, 2009 Italy 0 - Netherlands 0
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UEFA European Championship ‎(EC)‎ Jun 9, 2008 Netherlands 3 - Italy 0
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Last Five Matches
Netherlands
Jun 11, 2013China 0 - Netherlands 2FR
Jun 7, 2013Indonesia 0 - Netherlands 3FR
Mar 26, 2013Netherlands 4 - Romania 0WCQ
Mar 22, 2013Netherlands 3 - Estonia 0WCQ
Feb 6, 2013Netherlands 1 - Italy 1FR
Italy
Jun 16, 2013Mexico 1 - Italy 2FCC
Jun 11, 2013Italy 2 - Haiti 2FR
Jun 7, 2013Czech Rep. 0 - Italy 0WCQ
May 31, 2013Italy 4 - San Marino 0FR
Mar 26, 2013Malta 0 - Italy 2WCQ
Odds
Returns: Netherlands £22.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £34.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Italy £37.50 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Team News
Available Squads
22Tim KrulGoalkeeper
-Bruno Martins IndiDefender
17Daley BlindDefender
-Daryl JanmaatDefender
-Stefan de VrijDefender
-Jordy ClasieMidfielder
8Adam MaherMidfielder
17Kevin StrootmanMidfielder
10Jeremain LensStriker
-Ola JohnStriker
16Robin van PersieStriker
-Kenneth VermeerGoalkeeper
3John HeitingaDefender
4Joris MathijsenDefender
15Jetro WillemsDefender
-Ricardo van RhijnDefender
13Ron VlaarDefender
11Arjen RobbenMidfielder
-Urby EmanuelsonMidfielder
-Jonathan De GuzmánMidfielder
-Marco van Ginkel
7Dirk KuytStriker
1Gianluigi BuffonGoalkeeper
15Andrea BarzagliDefender
4Davide AstoriDefender
-Davide SantonDefender
20Ignazio AbateDefender
6Antonio CandrevaMidfielder
21Andrea PirloMidfielder
16Daniele De RossiMidfielder
18Riccardo MontolivoMidfielder
9Mario BalotelliStriker
10Stephan El ShaarawyMidfielder
13Federico MarchettiGoalkeeper
-Morgan De Sanctis
12Salvatore SiriguGoalkeeper
-Andrea Ranocchia
-Federico Peluso
-Daniele Gastaldello
-Alessandro FlorenziMidfielder
-Antonio Nocerino
22Emanuele GiaccheriniMidfielder
-Marco VerrattiMidfielder
23Alessandro DiamantiMidfielder
11Alberto GilardinoStriker
-Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Players to Watch
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 16
Games Goals YC RC
3 1 0 0
The Manchester United striker is one of the few true stars in the current Oranje set-up, and Van Gaal will be hoping that the attacker can lead his young team-mates the way in the ArenA. Van Persie has occasionally struggled to replicate his club form for the national team, but has been in sensational form this term and will be brimming with confidence.
Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
4 1 0 0
The controversial attacker capped his return to Serie A by netting a double to help AC Milan to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Udinese in Sunday's league encounter, and Balotelli will be eager to continue his fine form with the national team. Prandelli recently stated that he still believes the former Manchester City man has what it takes to become one of the best in the world, and Wednesday's game is just the opportunity for Balotelli to prove his coach right.
Prediction
Both Netherlands and Italy have shown over the past years that they are among the world's best, and Wednesday's encounter promises to be an interesting match. Although, Oranje have home advantage, the Azzurri will feel confident heading into the game following their superior head-to-head record. Additionally, the hosts are without several of their recognised stars. Louis van Gaal's young team will be determined to get a good result, though, and a draw seems the most likely result in the ArenA.
Editor's Prediction
Netherlands 1
Italy 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra
Midfielder
Al Faisaly Amman 		4 1
Andreas Cornelius Andreas Cornelius
Striker
Copenhagen 		4 1
Fred Fred
Striker
Fluminense 		4 0
Mikael Forssell Mikael Forssell
Striker
HJK Helsinki 		3 1
Clint Dempsey Clint Dempsey
Midfielder
Tottenham 		3 1

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