The Netherlands U21 team faces a must-win match to keep their European Championship dream alive. Michael Reiziger's side must defeat Slovenia on Friday at 18:00 in their U21 Euro qualifier to have any hope of reaching the play-offs.
Head coach Michael Reiziger underlined the importance of the fixture. "Jong Oranje is facing a crucial match tonight in the hunt for a ticket to the youth European Championship," the manager said. A loss would mean immediate elimination from the tournament race.
The situation in Group G is bleak. After six matches, the Dutch U21s have only six points and sit in fourth place. Norway U21s have already won the group with sixteen points from seven games. Slovenia U21s, Friday's opponents, are already eliminated with five points. The only path to the play-offs requires two victories. After Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina must also be beaten on Tuesday, while Israel must drop points against Norway.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN 1. Pre-match coverage starts at 17:30 and the broadcast runs until 20:20 with highlights and reaction. The channel is available in the standard basic package for most viewers, requiring no additional subscription.
While the future of the youth team is under pressure, the senior Netherlands side is thriving. They are two points clear of Japan and are unbeaten in their last five internationals. The next major test is scheduled for Saturday, with a home fixture against Serbia. The full squad and schedule can be found on this site.
For Reiziger and his players, the focus is now entirely on Friday. The task is clear: only a victory keeps the Euro chance realistic. Final training sessions are focused on finding the right line-up for this decisive match.
Further reading: Mee Met Oranje
