The key contests as Netherlands vs Germany rivalry resumes

There’s no doubt as to the glamour tie of the day, or indeed the week as far Euro 2020 qualifying is concerned, with Netherlands and Germany coming head-to-head once again in the latest edition of a fierce, long-standing rivalry.

Up until recently it’s been the Germans that have approached such matches as the clear favourites but results of the two sides over the past year have changed all that.

These two sides were drawn against one another in the inaugural UEFA Nations League after all, with Netherlands running out 3-0 winners on home soil before a late comeback in Gelsenkirchen saw the Oranje top a group - along with world champions France - that they were expected to foot.

We take a look at the key head-to-head battles ahead of Sunday night’s big game to gauge where the contest may be won and lost.

Virgil van Dijk vs Antonio Rüdiger

While Netherlands skipper Van Dijk has been a top defender in the Premier League for some time few would have predicted just how high his stock would rise over the last few years. The Liverpool centre-back has only really established himself as a first choice defender for the Dutch over the past three years but is now considered by a growing number as the best in his position in the world.

The senior member of a pairing alongside the impressive Matthijs de Ligt, Koeman’s defensive duo is probably the envy of every international coach around at present, and certainly Jogi Low. The Germany boss has told Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng that their services are no longer required in a bid to move on from a terrible 2018, with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger, at 26, now the elder statesman in a youthful backline.

The Blues defender has become an important player at Stamford Bridge since his arrival from Roma, boasting a notably positive impact on results. The London club have won just over 59 per cent of the 54 league matches Rudiger has started compared to just under 43 per cent of the 14 he hasn’t, shipping 0.4 goals fewer per game.

However, as far as impacts on defences are concerned, it’s hard to think of a greater one in Premier League history than that of Van Dijk at Liverpool. The colossal 27-year old has won over 77 per cent of his aerial duels this season - compared to Rudiger’s meagre 52 per cent - and is still yet to be dribbled past in England’s top-flight all season. With goals in both Nations League meetings between the teams last year, Van Dijk is likely to have the bigger influence at either end.

Frenkie de Jong vs Toni Kroos

These two are getting quite used to coming head-to-head nowadays and are only set to do so more often once De Jong makes his switch to Barcelona at the end of the season. It’s the Ajax youngster that, in general, has got the better of the meetings between the two pass masters too, playing a decisive role in the 3-0 win in this fixture in the Nations League as well as his club’s historic 4-1 trouncing of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu earlier this month.

It was Kroos that committed a costly error to give Ajax hope of an upset early on in the Spanish capital and his passing on the night was well below his usual standards. Indeed, the 29-year-old has completed a sensational 93.5 per cent of his passes in La Liga this season - bettering De Jong’s impressive 91.5 per cent - but the youngster is the more creative and progressive of the two in open play.

Kroos has more key passes per 90 minutes to his name but the bulk have come from set pieces, while all of the Dutchman’s chances created have been from open play. The 21-year old is a stronger dribbler to boot, and the junior of the two has certainly enjoyed the stronger campaign so far, earning an outstanding WhoScored.com rating of 7.60 in the Eredivisie.

Memphis Depay vs Marco Reus

It’s been a relatively frustrating league season for Memphis Depay this time around, particularly in front of goal where a modest tally of six goals is even more so when considering the amount of shots he has taken. A subsequent conversion rate of just 7.2 per cent would align with the theory that the forward is lacking an end product but for the national team the 25-year old has become a real talisman.

The Lyon star, who leads the line for his country, had a hand in all four goals as Netherlands steamrolled their way past Belarus last week, scoring twice and assisting goals for Georginio Wijnaldum and that man Van Dijk. He has now had a direct hand in at least one goal in 14 of his last 18 international appearances and will be among those with genuine designs on ending the qualifying campaign as top scorer.

As far as Germany are concerned, finding the right formula in attack has been a big problem of late and while Timo Werner seems like the default choice up front, the RB Leipzig striker has underwhelmed for the national side on more than the odd occasion. The 2014 world champions looked considerably stronger when Marco Reus entered the fray in the friendly against Serbia and he, like Memphis, could operate in more of a focal role for his country if needed.

Unlike the Dutchman, one can’t question his efficiency in front of goal this season after all, with the Borussia Dortmund captain enjoying his finest campaign of a career plagued by injuries for some time. Reus already has 15 league goals to his name after all and will be aiming to better a high of 18 registered in his final season with Gladbach.

It was Reus’ second season with BVB that saw him earmarked as Germany’s best player ahead of the World Cup in Brazil before suffering the first of a number of serious injuries and it’s fair to say the national team have been deprived of Reus’ best years. That said, in a more central role with less onus on dribbling or defensive contribution the 29-year old is a real weapon once more and one that Low should put to use.