Netherlands v England preview

Gareth Southgate

England travel to the Netherlands on Friday as Gareth Southgate's side step up preparations for the World Cup.

England come into the game on the back of a pair of 0-0 draws with Germany and Brazil in November, and have not beaten the Oranje since the famous 4-1 win at Euro 96.

Southgate has named a young squad for the latest round of fixtures, including three uncapped players, and the England coach believes his side could be an interesting prospect in Russia.

 

"We can surprise people, we're a country that at the last World Cup didn't get out of the group and we know what happened at the European Championships," he said.

"The average age of the squad is around 25 so we know that we're a work in progress."

 

The Netherlands have endured a fall from grace since their third-place finish at the World Cup in 2014, failing to qualify for both Euro 2016 and this year's tournament in Russia.

 

But Friday's game will mark former Everton and Southampton manager Ronald Koeman's first game at the helm since he was announced as manager in February.

 

England travelled to Holland on Thursday without Jack Wilshere, who has been left at home after picking up a knee injury, while Ryan Bertrand pulled out of the squad earlier in the week with a back problem.

Harry Kane is missing with an ankle injury he suffered for Tottenham in their 4-1 win over Bournemouth, but Jamie Vardy, the squad's only other out-and-out striker, is fit. Southgate also confirmed that Jordan Pickford would start in goal.

 

Ronald Koeman's first Netherlands squad includes 18-year-old striker Justin Kluivert - son of former striker Patrick - for the first time while Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has been named as the new captain.