Netherlands: still undecided on best formation
While any prediction about Louis van Gaal's plans for Manchester United will include a reference to his love of 4-3-3, he's currently trying something entirely different with Holland.
Van Gaal stuck to conventional 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations throughout qualification, but he's suddenly decided that these shapes might not suit his players after all. The absence of Kevin Strootman was part of this thinking, but it's still surprising that he's tried two completely different shapes in the pre-tournament warm-ups.
He's experimented with both a 3-4-1-2 and a 4-3-1-2. At this point, the front trio seems set in stone, and the variation will come in deeper positions. Van Gaal might well stick to the 'spare man' theory, favoured by many coaches in his mould, which means playing two centre-backs against a lone striker, and three centre-backs against a front two.
Handily, Van Gaal is able to switch between the formations with the same set of players. The versatility of Daley Blind, who can play left-wing-back or central midfield with equal proficiency, is crucial, while Bruno Martins Inid is a left-footed centre-back and capable of shifting out to left-back. Daryl Janmaat can play right-back or right-wing-back, as you'd expect.
The Netherlands’ 3-4-1-2 against Ghana
The experiment with a 3-4-1-2, in friendlies against both Ecuador and Ghana, was a major surprise. The decision seems partly inspired by Feyenoord's recent use of a similar system, although this was itself an experiment, at the end of a campaign where they generally played 4-2-3-1.
But Van Gaal has included four of the back five Feyenoord used in the 2-0 win at PSV, for example, with the exception being Joris Mathijsen, who was excellent in the last World Cup. These players are very young (20, 22, 22, 24), which means they're adaptable, energetic and hungry, but lacking experience. Van Gaal loves working with youngsters, and he loves switching between systems – so perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised.
Holland didn't look particularly great in the games against Ecuador (1-1) or Ghana (a 1-0 victory) so Van Gaal switched to a 4-3-1-2 for the game against Wales, a 2-0 win.
Again, the performance wasn't particularly sparkling, and regardless of which system Van Gaal uses, there's the same problems – a lack of invention on the ball in central midfield, no link between the back seven and the front three, and the fact the defenders are, realistically, not yet top-class footballers.
It's always a benefit to be tactically flexible, and it certainly provides interest, but it feels like Van Gaal is trying these shapes because he hasn't found something that works. It's not impossible he could return to 4-2-3-1, although it would seem odd having not used that system in preparation.
Front three
The one permanent area of the side is
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