PROSHOTS
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
NETHERLANDS  Stekelenburg Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Braafheid Van Bommel, StrootmanVan Persie, Sneijder, Kuyt L. de Jong | SWITZERLAND  Benaglio Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Von Bergen, Rodriguez Inler, Dzemaili Shaqiri, Fernandes, Mehmedi Emeghara |
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk will have to make do without the services of regulars such as Erik Pieters (PSV), Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona) and Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) due to various injury problems, while young defender Jeffrey Bruma is also unavailable.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke) has been training with a mask due to a fractured nose, and is doubtful for Friday's clash.
The absence of Pieters and Robben means that Hoffenheim's Edson Braafheid is likely to start at left-back, while Arsenal star Robin van Persie should get the nod in a free role from the rigth wing.
Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld was dealt several blows as Reto Ziegler (Fenerbahce), Valon Behrami (Fiorentina) and Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen) were all forced to withdraw from the squad over the past few days, while Philippe Senderos (Fulham) is out of action as well.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Netherlands have met Switzerland on 32 occasions before. Both sides have recorded 15 victories each, with the remaining two games ending in a draw.
- Oranje striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has already netted 21 goals in official games this term. Only Barcelona's Lionel Messi has scored more in Europe's summer-commencing leagues.
- Holland were beaten for the first time since the 2010 World Cup final when they lost to Sweden in last month's Euro 2012 qualifier.
- Switzerland beat Holland 2-1 the last time the two teams met. A Tranquillo Barnetta brace was enough for a friendly win in Geneva.
- Servette defender Vincent Rufli is the only uncapped player in Hitzfeld's squad for Friday's encounter.
- No player in the current Switzerland squad has scored more than four goals for the national side.
Prediction
The Dutch will be eager to return to winning ways after their loss against Sweden in their last game and their individual quality should prove to be too much for Switzerland. Both Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie have been in stunning form this term, while players such as Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder will be eager to show their class following difficult spells at club level. Switzerland on the other hand are without several key players and will be low on confidence after missing out on Euro 2012. A win for Oranje seems to be the most logical outcome on Friday.
Editor's Prediction
Netherlands 2-0 Switzerland 
