The Netherlands will take on Cameroon in this second round of group stage fixtures. A last gasp winner from Jill Roord gave the Dutch a narrow 1-0 win over New Zealand in their opening match. The Indomitable Lionesses, meanwhile, put up a dogged defensive display against Canada. They were ultimately defeated 1-0 thanks to Kadeisha Buchanan’s header just before half time.
A win for the Netherlands would effectively help secure passage through to the round of 16 ahead of a tough match against Canada. They will be looking to have things sewn up before then. Six points would all but guarantee their position in the next round.
Cameroon will most likely be looking to scrape a point from this match. With the top three teams going through to the round of 16, a point ahead of their crunch match against New Zealand will be vital for their slim chances of progression in this World Cup.
It is likely to be another game of attack vs defence for both sides. The Dutch dominated their match against New Zealand while the Indomitable Lionesses were happy enough to sit back and defend against Canada. This tactical analysis preview will show you how the match might play out.
The Setups
4-3-3 was the nominal set up used by the Netherlands in their opener against New Zealand. It wasn’t an entirely standard 4-3-3 setup, however, taking a more staggered approach. This often gave it the appearance of being more of a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Sherida Spitse was the deepest lying of the midfielders, with Jackie Groenen alongside her playing more on the front foot. They often took on the appearance of a double midfield pivot. It was clear, though, that Spitse was playing deeper with Groenen roaming to find space more.
The most advanced of the midfielders was Danielle van de Donk. She played in a quasi-No10, with plenty of license to roam forward. 2017 World Player of the Year Lieke Martens is also an important attacking outlet for the Dutch. She started on the left wing but was seen popping up in various positions along the front line.
Cameroon were set up far more conservatively against Canada. They lined up in a 5-4-1, with great solidity being provided by having three players at centre back. Both Christine Manie and Estelle Johnson are excellent defenders and proved tough for Canada to break down.
The Indomitable Lionesses also seemed to congest space in the middle of the pitch, with a compact shape from the front line. This generally worked effectively, with Canada’s winner coming from a corner. It is likely they will again opt for this tactic and hope that the talent of Gabrielle Onguéné on the break will reap more rewards going forward.
