The Netherlands remain one of the biggest nations in European football, although they are currently outsiders to win the 2024 European Championship.

Ronald Koeman’s side won six of their eight matches in qualifying, but several injury problems could prove costly during the tournament.

First-choice left-wing-back Quilindschy Hartman is absent due to injury, while the same can be said for Mats Wieffer, who was likely to start in central midfield.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw – Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites

After missing both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands have now qualified for three successive major tournaments, although they will be hoping to go further than their round of 16 exit at Euro 2020 and their quarter-final loss at the most recent World Cup.

Below, FootballTransfers predicts the Netherlands’ first-choice starting XI at Euro 2024.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 top scorers

How Netherlands will line up at Euro 2024

Koeman has a fairly severe selection headache regarding his preferred goalkeeper. Andries Noppert was the starting ‘keeper during the 2022 World Cup, but he hasn’t even been included in the preliminary squad.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen is a serious contender for the number one jersey, but Brentford’s Mark Flekken may just win the battle to be the Netherlands’ starting goalkeeper.

Upon re-joining The Netherlands, Koeman stated that he would move to a back four system, however he chopped and changed between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-5-2 during qualifying, and a back three shape is more likely at Euro 2024.

With that in mind, Matthijs de Ligt, Virgil van Dijk and Daley Blind are expected to start in the back three, with Denzel Dumfries and Nathan Ake as wing-backs. Ake and Blind may well swap positions, but neither player is as suited to the left-wing-back role as the injured Hartman.

Jeremie Frimpong has enjoyed a brilliant season with Bayer Leverkusen, however he has never been particularly fancied at international level.

Frenkie de Jong is a guaranteed starter in midfield, but a major dilemma concerns who will partner him in the middle of the park. Tijani Reijnders is the most likely candidate as things stand, although Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners and Georginio Wijnaldum are also options.

Xavi Simons will play as a No.10, just behind a front two of Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo.

Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee was a surprise omission from the squad given his spectacular form in Serie A, with Wout Weghorst selected instead.

Netherlands’ starting XI at Euro 2024

GK: Mark Flekken

CB: Matthijs de Ligt

CB: Virgil van Dijk

CB: Daley Blind

RWB: Denzel Dumfries

CM: Frenkie de Jong

CM: Tijani Reijnders

LWB: Nathan Ake

CAM: Xavi Simons

ST: Memphis Depay

ST: Cody Gakpo

Netherlands’ Euro 2024 squad

The Netherlands have announced a 30-man preliminary squad as follows:

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Mark Flekken (Brentford), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion), Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam).

Defenders: Nathan Ake (Man City), Daley Blind (Girona FC), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Ian Maatsen (Borussia Dortmund), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan).

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Jerdy Schouten (PSV Eindhoven), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Quinten Timber (Feyenoord), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Georginio Wijnaldum (Al-Ettifaq).

Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Wout Weghorst (Hoffenheim).