Xavi faces a baptism of fire as head coach of the Netherlands national team. Voetbalzone have joined the Spanish coach in weighing up which players will start against Germany in the Nations League on Thursday.
Robin Roefs has been playing very well for Sunderland for some time, which is why calls to give him a chance between the posts have grown louder. Even so, Bart Verbruggen remains the Netherlands' first choice under Xavi.
At right-back, Denzel Dumfries gets the nod ahead of Jurriën Timber, who is still building up his fitness. Jan Paul van Hecke partners Virgil van Dijk, who stays with the national team as captain. Micky van de Ven slots in on the left side of the Netherlands defence.
With Frenkie de Jong and Jerdy Schouten absent, Xavi has a midfield puzzle to solve. Joey Veerman is back with the Netherlands after two years and comes straight into the side against Germany. Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders complete the midfield.
On the right wing, Crysencio Summerville caught the eye at the World Cup and now looks set to prove himself. Brian Brobbey hit a hat-trick against Manchester City and hopes to take that form into Thursday. Cody Gakpo must provide the supply from the left.
Both the Netherlands and Germany have a sense of revenge in this one. The Netherlands went out to Morocco in the World Cup round of 32, while Germany humiliated themselves against Paraguay at the same stage.
Probable Netherlands line-up: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Veerman, Gravenberch, Reijnders; Summerville, Brobbey, Gakpo.



