Memphis Depay – Foto: Orange Pictures / Shutterstock.com
The Netherlands face Malta this Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 3:45 PM Brasília time, at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium, in the sixth round of the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The match takes place in Group G, with the Dutch leading with 10 points from four games. Malta sits at the bottom with two points, aiming for a positive result at home.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and Disney+. Croatian referee Duje Strukan officiates, assisted by Alen Jakšić and Marjan Tomas, with Ivan Bebek on VAR.
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman adopts an offensive approach to boost goal difference and maintain an unbeaten run.
Our fans are warming up! 😎#NothingLikeOranje #MLTNED pic.twitter.com/lQ7SvRBaFa
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) October 9, 2025
Group G standings
The Netherlands have three wins and one draw in the qualifiers, with 12 goals scored and two conceded. The unbeaten team relies on parallel results to solidify their lead before facing Lithuania. Malta has one draw and four losses, with no wins in the competition. Emilio De Leo’s team focuses on a compact defense to avoid heavy defeats, like the 8-0 loss in June 2025.
The technical gap is evident in the head-to-head record, with the Netherlands winning all seven previous matches, scoring 36 goals without conceding.
Head-to-head history
The teams first met in 1985, with a 3-0 Dutch victory. In the last five encounters, the Netherlands recorded large scorelines, including a 6-0 win in 2015. Malta has never scored in official matches against the opponent. De Leo uses these stats to motivate his squad, emphasizing the importance of points at home.
In 2023, during the Nations League, Malta avoided relegation with seven points in four games, boosting team confidence. Thursday’s match offers Malta a chance to break their negative streak and earn crucial points.
Probable lineups and absences
The Netherlands arrive reinforced but without Brian Meerdink, sidelined by a knee injury from training. Memphis Depay starts on the bench due to a travel delay caused by a passport issue.
The expected formation is a 4-3-3, emphasizing a creative midfield. Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, De Vrij, Van de Ven; De Jong, Reijnders, Gravenberch; Xavi Simons, Malen, Gakpo.
Malta welcomes back defenders Kurt Shaw and Gabriel Mentz after suspensions. Ilyas Chouaref serves a second-game ban for a red card.
De Leo opts for a defensive 4-5-1, focusing on quick transitions. Bonello; Shaw, Pepe, Borg, Camenzuli; Joseph Mbong, Teuma, Guillaumier, Satariano; Paul Mbong, Cardona.
- Dutch absence: Meerdink (knee);
- Malta returns: Shaw and Mentz (defense);
- Netherlands formation: 4-3-3 offensive;
- Malta formation: 4-5-1 compact.
Croatian officiating
Duje Strukan referees his third qualifier match, with an 85% VAR accuracy rate, per UEFA reports. His assistants have officiated internationals since 2020. VAR official Ivan Bebek oversees offside calls and penalty reviews. UEFA enforces fair play protocols, focusing on simulation penalties.
Strukan averages four yellow cards per game, with no expulsions in recent qualifiers. The Maltese Federation prepares the stadium for 16,000 fans, expecting a full house.
Tactical expectations
Koeman plans high intensity from the start, exploiting flanks with Dumfries and Van de Ven. The Netherlands aim for early goals against a defense that conceded 15 goals in five rounds. De Leo employs zonal marking, with Guillaumier as the pivot. Counterattacks rely on Satariano, who scored once in the qualifiers.
Analysts predict 70% possession for the Netherlands, with four shots per half. Malta focuses on set pieces. The match tests young Dutch players like Xavi Simons, 22, with three goals in the competition. UEFA reports an average of 2.8 goals per game in this cycle, suggesting an open scoreline.
