- Netherlands face Spain in Nations League quarter-finals | Live on Amazon Prime Video
- Reigning European champions Spain are also the holders of the Nations League, having won in June 2023
- The Dutch come into the match having won just two of their six group matches
- Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Van Dijk, Hato, van Hecke; Frimpong, Reijnders, De Jong; Geertruida; Gakpo, Kluivert, Memphis.
- Spain XI: Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams.
We’re underway in Rotterdam!
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:47
The crowd are warming up at De Kuip and both sides are in the tunnel now. We’re around five minutes from kick-off.
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:40
Spain have won all five of their last five matches, with a draw in their other Nations League group game (0-0 against Serbia away).
La Roja beat Serbia at home and then won home and away against Denmark and Switzerland over the course of the campaign, scoring 13 and conceding just four in the process.
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:35
If that 2010 World Cup win signalled Spain as one of the great sides in football history, this match was the one that signalled the end of that dynasty.
Four years on from the win in South Africa, these two sides met again in Group B in Brazil, and the Netherlands got their revenge in spectacular style.
Despite Spain going 1-0 up through a Xabi Alonso penalty, the Dutch hit back through a now-famous van Persie header before Arjen Robben gave them the lead.
From there it was one-way traffic as both van Persie and Roben secured a brace after Stefan de Vrij had made it 3-1, giving the Netherlands one of the most famous results in recent World Cup history.
(Getty Images)
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:30
The Dutch have won one, lost one and drawn three of their last five matches, with the win and loss coming against Hungary and Germany respectively.
Koeman’s side also managed a draw against both of those sides, with the other result being a 1-1 draw with Bosnia last time out.
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:25
The most famous match between these two came in 2010, at the World Cup Final in Johannesburg.
After a match that had seen plenty of missed chances, a red card for John Heitinga and a blatant red card not given to Nigel de Jong, Andres Iniesta popped up with a lovely half-volley to give La Roja their maiden World Cup win.
Having won Euro 2008, this result sealed Spain’s dominance at international level, with players including Xavi, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas featuring again as La Roja won Euro 2012 in style.
For the Netherlands, it was another heartbreak on the biggest stage.
(Getty Images)
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:20
Below is the full list of the Nations League quarter-final ties:
The winners of the tie between Spain and the Netherlands will face either Croatia or France in the semi-finals.
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:15
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has said that the Dutch “have a very young, talented team”.
“At this level, age is not a factor. What matters is ability, determination and talent.
“We want to win, we don’t think about speculating and resolving the issue in Valencia. That never crosses our minds.
“It will be a very complicated match, like a final,” he added.
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:10
Dutch boss Ronald Koeman has praised Spain in the lead up to the game, saying they are “very solid on the ball, and they have great midfielders between the lines”.
“With Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the flanks, they also have a lot of pace.
“You will sometimes have to park the bus, but you don’t really want that. You want to have the ball in their half and apply pressure up front at times.”
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 19:05
These two sides have met a total of 12 times in the past, with Spain winning four, the Netherlands winning six and two ending as draws.
The last two meetings both came in friendlies, with the Dutch winning 2-0 in 2015 before a 1-1 draw in 2020.
Chris Wilson20 March 2025 18:55
