Preview: Netherlands vs. Mexico - prediction, team news, lineups

Netherlands and Mexico get their October schedule underway on Wednesday evening with an international friendly at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

The game will represent Frank de Boer 's first game in charge after replacing Ronald Koeman, who left for Barcelona in the summer.

Match preview

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When De Boer left Ajax in 2016, the legendary defender was expected to move on to have a fine career at one of the bigger clubs in Europe.

However, after failed spells at Inter Milan and Crystal Palace, it has taken a period at Atlanta United to convince the Dutch football association that the 50-year-old is the ideal replacement for Koeman.

The majority of Dutch supporters will tend to agree, pointing to the level of respect that De Boer commands in his homeland, but he is aware that he has something to prove on the big stage over the coming years.

Being handed trips to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy in his opening two competitive matches is far from ideal, although the meeting with Mexico should give De Boer a chance to look at his players.

With three games to come in the space of a week, it would not come as a surprise if opportunities were provided to some of the newcomers, including emerging AZ star Teun Koopmeiners.

As far as Mexico are concerned, they have travelled to Europe having started the month with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Guatemala.

The game took place without Gerardo Martino being able to call upon his European-based stars, but 10 new players will link up with the squad for the next two matches.

Like his opposite number, Martino will have to take the fitness level of certain players into consideration, aware that they have a packed schedule on both the domestic and international scene.

Nevertheless, this is an opportunity for Mexico to test themselves against world-class opposition for the first time in over a year, a chance which Martino will not want to waste.

Netherlands form (all competitions): WWDWWL

Mexico form (all competitions): WWWWWW

Team News

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Having started three games for Liverpool over the past week, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk will almost certainly be rested for this contest.

Memphis Depay is expected to miss out after his activity on deadline day, while many of the other players who played abroad on Sunday are unlikely to start this contest.

As well as a debut being handed to Koopmeiners, AZ teammate Owen Wijndal could also start at left-back.

Martino will likely call on his big-hitters, which should see Edson Alvarez feature on his home ground at centre-back or in central midfield.

Raul Jimenez will almost certainly lead the line, with Jesus Corona and Diego Lainez occupying the wide positions in the absence of Hirving Lozano.

Netherlands possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Veltman, Ake, Blind, Wijndal; Koopmeiners, De Roon; Bergwijn, Van de Beek, Babel; Malen

Mexico possible starting lineup:

Gonzalez; Rodriguez, Araujo, Moreno, Arteaga; Alvarez, Herrera; Corona, Pizarro, Lainez; Jimenez

We say: Netherlands 1-1 Mexico

With both nations having to take several factors into the equation, we expect a rather low-key affair in Amsterdam. Although both sets of players will want to impress, goalscoring chances may be few and far between.

Top betting tip

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