Netherlands in Uzbekistan Test in New York: Last Rehearsal Before the World Cup

Before the match to be played at Icahn Stadium in New York, the Netherlands side is trying to forget the bad picture that came out of the Algeria match. The Algeria preparation match played at De Kuip in Rotterdam on Wednesday, June 3, resulted in a 0-1 defeat and ended Netherlands' unbeaten run since March 2025. Especially Donyell Malen's failure to evaluate several clear positions was one of the critical moments in the match, and Algeria left Rotterdam with three points with the goal it found in the last minutes of the match. This defeat went down in records as the fourth defeat the Netherlands experienced in their last home match before a major tournament; similar results had been experienced previously in 1934, 1938 and 2004. Denzel Dumfries (suspended) and Jurriën Timber (joined the squad late due to Arsenal's Champions League final run), who could not play against Algeria, stand out as two important names expected to take the field in the Uzbekistan match.

Koeman evaluates the XI he will play against Uzbekistan largely as a rehearsal for the squad that will take the field in the Japan opening match. The Dutch manager had stated at the press conference while commenting on this match that he would make as few changes as possible in the squad. While almost every player in the 26-man squad is expected to have a chance to take the field, Koeman intends to make quick decisions at points where he is nervous. The Netherlands had completed the World Cup qualifying process in European Group G with 6 wins and 2 draws and unbeaten from the first place, conceding only 4 goals in the process where they scored 27. The Oranje, who passed all their rivals in the qualifying matches except for the two matches against Poland that ended 1-1 in Rotterdam and Warsaw, had proved their attacking power with Memphis Depay's 8-goal output.

The Netherlands are in Group F at the World Cup. Koeman's pupils will play the opening match of the tournament against Japan at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington on June 14, then face Sweden at the NRG Stadium in Houston on June 20 and Tunisia in Kansas City on June 25. The result to be obtained against Japan will directly affect the rotation plans in the second and third group matches; in fact, Japan under Hajime Moriyasu's management has a squad capable of winning against teams like Brazil and England within 2025, even passing England at Wembley. The Netherlands is one of the teams that finished in the quarter-final and above in three of the last four World Cups; the Oranje, who were eliminated by Argentina on penalties in 2022 Qatar, aim to advance to at least the semi-final this time.

On the Uzbekistan side, a historic moment is approaching. The team under Fabio Cannavaro's management has earned the right to participate in this organisation for the first time in club history at the 2026 World Cup. The White Wolves, who completed the Asian qualifiers in second place with 21 points, had reached the finals just two points behind Iran. The young defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who wears the Manchester City jersey, former Roma forward and the national team's all-time top scorer Eldor Shomurodov, who has reached 44 goals, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who wears the Istanbul Başakşehir jersey, stand out as star names in Cannavaro's team; apart from Shomurodov and Fayzullaev, the vast majority of star names play in the Uzbekistan domestic league. While left-back Ibrokhimkhalil Yuldoshev, who left the World Cup squad due to injury, stands out as an important loss, Uzbekistan is expected on the field in the 3-4-2-1 formation in the match. This match means the last touch-up for the Netherlands before the WC and a World Cup rehearsal for Uzbekistan, while both sides aim to collect data from the match.

Probable Lineups

Netherlands (4-3-3, Koeman): Goalkeeper: Verbruggen Defence: Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Aké Midfield: De Jong, Gravenberch, Reijnders Attack: Summerville, Depay, Gakpo

Uzbekistan (3-4-2-1, Cannavaro): Goalkeeper: Yusupov Defence: Abdullaev, Khusanov, Ashurmatov Midfield: Sayfiev, Hamrobekov, Shukurov, Nasrullaev Attack: Fayzullaev, Uronov Forward: Shomurodov

Image: ntvspor.net