Tunisia
If you would have told anyone of Tunisian descent just how badly this world cup would have gone they would not have believed you, they have been beaten 5-1, sacked a manager and then lost 4-0. They have already been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.
There was some confidence heading into the tournament, Sabri Lamouchi was a popular coach and they were hoping for good things…. They then played their first game against Sweden… They were beaten 5-1 by Graham Potter’s men and this resulted in the sacking of Lamouchi.
He was replaced by former Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard, the Frenchman has a wide knowledge of African football but he wasn’t able to arest the slump and they were thumped 4-0 by Japan and knocked out of the World Cup.
Injuries & Team News
Renard chose to stick with the back five formation that Lamouchi had been using prior to his sacking but he couldn’t prevent another large defeat against Japan. He might consider mixing it up against the dutch and start with a back four.
If he goes with a four that means one of Dylan Bronn, Omar Rekik and Montassar Talbi could drop from central defence, while Yan Valery and Ali Abdi – who has scored the most international goals among the current squad (seven) – maintain their spots at full-back.
Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri is likely to take up the creative midfield role, with Ellyes Skhiri providing cover behind him and Anis Ben Slimane, who put in a decent shift last time out.
Form
| Last Match | Last 6 Matches |
|---|---|
| 0-4 vs Japan |
W D L L L L
|
Predicted Line-Up
Tunisia possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Valery, Rekik, Talbi, Ali Abdi; Skhiri; Slimane, Hannibal; Chaouat, Saad, Mastouri
Netherlands
As always The Dutch head into a World Cup tournament with lots of hope and expectation and Oranje will be feeling very confident about their chances of going deep into the competition after the first two games.
They have arguably been the most entertaining team of the World Cup after two rounds of fixtures, across the 2 games they have played there have been 10 goals scored. Is this the year the dutch win a first world cup ?
The opening fixture against Japan was a really attacking entertaining game, although having led twice through Virgil Van Dijk & Crysencio Summerville they might be disappointed not to have claimed all three points.
The Netherlands come into this one on the back of Ronald Koeman taking the handbrake off with a Brian Brobbey first half brace, a Cody Gakpo second half brace and then a late strike scored by West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville rounded off an emphatic and impressive 5-1 demolition of Sweden in Houston.
Injuries & Team News
Netherlands, meanwhile, will look to welcome back Quinten Timber, who missed the win over Sweden due to concussion.
Brobbey should have done enough to keep his starting spot at the tip of the attack, though there are questions over a knock from the game against Sweden.
If he is fit enough, Donyell Malen and Gakpo are the likely starters beside him, though Summerville is battling hard to come back into the XI after his goal last time out.
Frenkie de Jong’s composure in midfield has been a stabilising force throughout, and he should start again alongside Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch.
Form
| Last Match | Last 6 Matches |
|---|---|
| 5-1 vs Sweden |
W D L W D W |
Predicted Line-Up
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven; De Jong, Reijnders, Gravenberch; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo
Betting Odds
| Team | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Tunisia Win | 25/1 – (26.00) | Grand Ivy |
| Draw | 10/1 – (11.00) | Dream Vegas |
| Netherlands Win | 1/7 – (1.14) | 247Bet |
Prediction
Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands
Netherlands have been one of the stand out teams in this world cup so far, Tunisia on the other hand have probably been the worst. Surely that only points to one thing and that is a simple Netherlands win.