The Netherlands are in pole position at the top of Group A but they must keep their focus against the already knocked-out hosts Qatar to secure a last-16 spot.
This will be Qatar’s final game at their first World Cup, becoming only the second host nation to crash out in the group stages after losing to Ecuador and Senegal.
Only a shock defeat to Felix Sanchez’s team could keep the Netherlands out of the Round of 16, but they’ll want a convincing victory to secure top spot.
Below are the projected lineups for both teams, based on the latest news leading up to the match.
MORE: How to watch Netherlands vs Qatar
Netherlands vs Qatar lineups
Louis Van Gaal’s Netherlands were stifled against Ecuador in their 1-1 draw and even the half-time introduction of Memphis Depay couldn’t give them an edge.
Depay has been struggling with a hamstring issue since September but has appeared from the bench in both his nation’s opening World Cup matches.
The Barcelona forward’s timely recovery is a major boost for Van Gaal, but the Dutch coach is taking a cautious approach, saying: “We will not take risks with Memphis Depay.
“To become world champions we need him. With Memphis I decide. It all depends on what I see. Memphis has to deliver as well.”
Qatar, meanwhile, could look to give some of their fringe players a taste of the World Cup, with their fate already sealed, but is more likely those introductions come from the bench.
Below are the projected starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at the Al Bayt Stadium on November 29.
Netherlands projected starting 11
(3-4-1-2, right to left): 23. Noppert (GK) — 2. Timber, 4. Van Dijk, 5. Ake — 22. Dumfries, 11. Berghuis, 21. De Jong, 17. Blind — 8. Klassen — 8. Gakpo, 7. Bergwijn
- Injured: Memphis Depay
- Suspended: None
While Depay will likely get a low risk run-out from the bench, the yellow card Matthijs de Ligt picked up against Senegal could cost him his place in the starting 11.
The defender was sidelined against Ecuador and Jurrien Timber is expected to take his place again, as Van Gaal aims to keep the Bayern Munich star fit and suspension-free.
💪 @Memphis #NothingLikeOranje #WorldCup https://t.co/RV6O2oQQtq pic.twitter.com/dEjAW1k7ms
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 28, 2022
Qatar projected starting 11
(5-3-2, right to left): 22. Barsham (GK) — 2. Pedro Miguel, 17. Mohamad, 16. Khoukhi, 3. Hassan, 14. Ahmed — 12. Boudiaf, 23. Madibo, 10. Al-Haydos — 19. Ali, 11. Afif
- Injured: None
- Suspended: None
Qatar haven’t picked up any injuries or suspensions in their opening two group games. They are expected to be unchanged.
Netherlands vs Qatar World Cup squads
Here are all the name on Netherlands and Qatar’s current World Cup squads in Qatar. (Caps correct as of start of Qatar 2022):
Netherlands
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Remko Pasveer | Ajax (NED) | 38 | 2 |
| GK | 22 | Andries Noppert | Heerenveen (NED) | 28 | 0 |
| GK | 13 | Justin Bijlow | Feyenoord (NED) | 24 | 6 |
| DEF | 4 | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool (ENG) | 31 | 49 |
| DEF | 5 | Nathan Ake | Manchester City (ENG) | 27 | 29 |
| DEF | 26 | Jeremie Frimpong | Bayer Leverkusen (NED) | 21 | 0 |
| DEF | 6 | Stefan de Vrij | Inter (ITA) | 30 | 59 |
| DEF | 17 | Daley Blind | Ajax (NED) | 32 | 94 |
| DEF | 3 | Matthijs de Ligt | Bayern Munich (GER) | 23 | 38 |
| DEF | 16 | Tyrell Malacia | Manchester United (ENG) | 23 | 6 |
| DEF | 2 | Jurrien Timber | Ajax (NED) | 21 | 10 |
| DEF | 22 | Denzel Dumfries | Inter (ITA) | 26 | 37 |
| MID | 21 | Frenkie de Jong | Barcelona (SPA) | 25 | 45 |
| MID | 14 | Davy Klassen | Ajax (NED) | 29 | 35 |
| MID | 25 | Xavi Simons | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 19 | 0 |
| MID | 11 | Steven Berghuis | Ajax (NED) | 30 | 39 |
| MID | 15 | Marten de Roon | Atalanta (ITA) | 31 | 30 |
| MID | 24 | Kenneth Taylor | Ajax (NED) | 20 | 2 |
| MID | 20 | Teun Koopmeiners | Atalanta (ITA) | 24 | 9 |
| FWD | 10 | Memphis Depay | Barcelona (SPA) | 28 | 81 |
| FWD | 7 | Steven Bergwijn | Ajax (NED) | 25 | 24 |
| FWD | 8 | Cody Gakpo | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 23 | 9 |
| FWD | 19 | Wout Weghorst | Besiktas (TUR) | 30 | 15 |
| FWD | 18 | Vincent Janssen | Royal Antwerp (BEL) | 28 | 20 |
| FWD | 9 | Luuk de Jong | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 32 | 38 |
| FWD | 12 | Noa Lang | Club Brugge (BEL) | 23 | 5 |
Qatar
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Saad Al-Sheeb | Al Sadd (QAT) | 32 | 80 |
| Goalkeeper | Meshaal Barsham | Al Sadd (QAT) | 24 | 15 |
| Goalkeeper | Yousuf Hassan | Al Gharafa (QAT) | 26 | 9 |
| Defender | Pedro Miguel | Al Sadd (QAT) | 32 | 78 |
| Defender | Musaab Khidir | Al Sadd (QAT) | 29 | 29 |
| Defender | Tarek Salman | Al Sadd (QAT) | 24 | 54 |
| Defender | Bassam Al Rawi | Al Duhail (QAT) | 24 | 51 |
| Defender | Boualem Khoukhi | Al Sadd (QAT) | 32 | 99 |
| Defender | Abdelkarim Hassan | Al Sadd (QAT) | 29 | 120 |
| Defender | Ismaeel Mohammad | Al Duhail (QAT) | 32 | 66 |
| Defender | Homam Ahmed Al Amin | Al Gharafa (QAT) | 23 | 27 |
| Defender | Jassim Jabir | Al Arabi (QAT) | 20 | 0 |
| Midfielder | Ali Asad | Al Sadd (QAT) | 29 | 56 |
| Midfielder | Assim Madibo | Al Duhail (QAT) | 26 | 43 |
| Midfielder | Mohammed Waad | Al Sadd (QAT) | 23 | 20 |
| Midfielder | Salem Al-Hajri | Al Sadd (QAT) | 26 | 23 |
| Midfielder | Mustafa Meshaal Tarek | Al Sadd (QAT) | 21 | 1 |
| Midfielder | Karim Boudiaf | Al Duhail (QAT) | 32 | 108 |
| Midfielder | Abdulaziz Hatim | Al Rayyan (QAT) | 32 | 96 |
| Forward | Naif Al-Hadhrami | Al Rayyan (QAT) | 21 | 1 |
| Forward | Ahmed Alaaeldin | Al Gharafa (QAT) | 29 | 45 |
| Forward | Hassan Al-Haydos | Al Sadd (QAT) | 31 | 160 |
| Forward | Akram Afif | Al Sadd (QAT) | 25 | 83 |
| Forward | Almoez Ali | Al Duhail (QAT) | 26 | 82 |
| Forward | Mohammed Muntari | Al Duhail (QAT) | 28 | 41 |
| Forward | Khalid Muneer | Al Wakrah (QAT) | 24 | 3 |
Credit: sportingnews.com