Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders says there is plenty of room for improvement despite the 5-1 hammering of Sweden that has put the Oranje on the brink of qualifying for the round of 32 at the World Cup.
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey inspired the weekend win over the Swedes with two goals and offered the kind of focal point the team missed during the opening game draw with Japan.
The Dutch and Japan are locked on four points on top of Group F with the team that finishes higher likely to avoid Brazil in the first knockout round.
Ahead of tomorrow’s game with Tunisia, Reijnders told reporters: “I think we should stay level and see how things go in each game. As the coach said after the match against Japan, we had a lot of good moments in that game. In the match against Sweden there were also moments when we discussed with each other things that needed to be improved.
“If we do this kind of thing against a stronger country, they will become even more dangerous. We also shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves after a 5-1 win. We should not think that we are now going to become champions or that it is a guarantee that we will make it to the final. There are still plenty of areas for improvement.”
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has been in charge for over three years now and has used a settled group. Reijnders was full of praise for the way the former Barcelona defender and coach conducts himself.
He added: “The coach is very direct. He says it how it is. For a player, it is nice to have that clarity. If something is good, it is good. If something is bad, it is bad. That’s the clarity a player asks for.”
Tunisia cannot qualify having suffered heavy defeats to Sweden and Japan.
The opening loss prompted the sacking of Sabri Lamouchi but the short-term appointment of the vastly experienced Herve Renard failed to improve their fortunes.
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Team news for Tunisia v Netherlands
Brobbey is struggling with a hamstring strain and may not be risked. Quinten Timber will return to the matchday squad after suffering a concussion.
Renard could revert to a four-man defence and try to match the Dutch in midfield.
Predicted line-ups for Tunisia v Netherlands
Tunisia: Dahmen; Valery, Rekik, Talbi, Ali Abdi; Skhiri, Slimane, Hannibal; Chaouat, Saad, Mastouri
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven; De Jong, Reijnders, Gravenberch; Summerville, Malen, Gakpo
Where to watch Tunisia v Netherlands: TV and online streams
Tunisia versus the Netherlands kicks off at midnight Thursday into Friday. You can watch it on BBC 1 and stream via the iPlayer.
Click HERE for a full World Cup TV guide
Stats for Tunisia v Netherlands
- Netherlands have not lost any of three previous meetings with Tunisia
- The Dutch have not lost any of five World Cup games against African nations
- Tunisia have become the first team since Greece in 1994 to lose two games at a single World Cup by four or more goals
Prediction for Tunisia v Netherlands
The Netherlands ought to win this with plenty to spare. Koeman appears to have found a nice blend that could make them dangerous opposition in the knockout stages.
Prediction: Tunisia 0-4 Netherlands
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