- Netherlands have scored in each of their last three games
- Tunisia have conceded ten goals in their last two away games
- Virgil van Dijk has scored twice in his last five appearances for the Netherlands
Dutch have too much quality
Netherlands are slight favourites to top Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after taking one point from their opening game, and they will be keen to kick on after a 2-2 draw with Japan in their opener.
The Oranje have been in mixed form recently but have bounced back from a defeat to Algeria in September with a win over Uzbekistan and a draw with Japan.
Ronald Koeman's side are versatile and can play a fluid 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system that presses high up the field and is built on possession and vertical play. They have a lot of talent throughout the team but Ryan Gravenberch, with two assists in one appearance, is their creative hub.
Netherlands will look to dictate the tempo in Kansas City, USA, on Thursday, against a Tunisia side who are likely to set up to frustrate and then try to hit them on the counter-attack.
Tunisia to struggle to trouble the scorers
The Eagles of Carthage are bottom of Group F with zero points after their opening-day 5-1 thrashing by Sweden and have lost three in a row across all competitions.
Hervé Renard has recently taken charge of the team and his pragmatic approach, which will look to frustrate opponents and then hit them on the break.
With both teams to score coming in at 2.04, the market seems to think Tunisia will struggle to break down the Dutch defence and that seems like a shrewd bet given Netherlands are favourites at 1.32 and the draw is 5.2.
The Eagles have been poor on the road recently, conceding ten goals in their last two trips, and it is hard to see them scoring against Netherlands.
Van Dijk can make his mark
The Netherlands are a possession-based team and this fixture is one where Tunisia may be able to set up and make things awkward, but the Oranje have enough quality to unlock the African side and claim all three points.
Crysencio Summerville was a threat up top when he opened his World Cup account against Japan and he will be the main goal threat for the Dutch.
Hannibal Mejbri has one assist in the World Cup and is the main creative force for Tunisia in midfield, while striker Omar Rekik opened his account in the World Cup against Sweden.
But with Virgil van Dijk adding two goals to his tally in his last five games for the Netherlands, he may offer the value as an anytime goal scorer as he can contribute from a set-piece situation.
