Netherlands vs Spain LIVE: Team news and line-ups ahead of Nations League quarter-final first leg – UK Times

Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Van Dijk, Hato, van Hecke; Frimpong, Reijnders, De Jong; Geertruida; Gakpo, Kluivert, Memphis.

Subs: Flekken, Olij, Baas, Brobbey, Koopmeiners, Laing, De Ligt, Malen, Simons, Taylor, Wieffer.

Luis de la Fuente has made six changes to the side that beat Switzerland 3-2 in the final group game.

Unai Simon returns in goal, while in defence Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella come in as full-backs in place of Oscar Mingueza and Alex Grimaldo. Robin Le Normand takes the place of Aitor Paredes and partners Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi at centre-back.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi replaces injured Barca man Marc Casado, and in the attacking positions, Yeremy Pino makes way for Lamine Yamal on the right.

La Roja have gone early with announcing their starting XI!

Spain XI: Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams.

When is the Netherlands vs Spain?

The first leg of the Nations League quarter-final is due to kick off at 7.45pm GMT on Thursday 20 March at De Kuip in Rotterdam.

There is no television coverage of the fixture in the United Kingdom. The game will, however, be available on Amazon Prime Video pay-per-view for £2.49, coverage starts at 7:35pm GMT, and fans can stream the contest live online with the Viaplay International YouTube channel.

Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen – born in Amsterdam but raised in Marbella – has been given a first senior call-up by Spain having been eligible for both nations and represented each at youth level. Aleix Garcia also joins the squad, with Barcelona duo Marc Casado and Inigo Martinez forced out through injury, while Raul Asencio is rewarded for some impressive performances at Real Madrid with a first international opportunity.

Memphis Depay has been recalled to Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad after impressive form for Corinthians, but Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee misses out. Defensive trio Stefan de Vrij, Micky van de Ven and Nathan Ake are among those sidelined or building up fitness after injury. Frenkie de Jong appears to be a doubt after missing training on Monday.

The pair will vie for last-eight success across two legs and four days, with the Dutch hosting the first half of the tie before travelling to Valencia on Sunday.

The Euro 2024 winners topped Group 4 having dropped just two points, while their opponents finished second behind Germany in Group 3.

The victor will progress to the finals tournament in either Italy or Germany next June.

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s Nations League quarter-final first leg between Spain and the Netherlands.

The tournament holders have been in fine form since winning Euro 2024 and they take on a Netherlands side who have stumbled since last summer, with the winner earning a place in the semi-finals against either Croatia or France.