Montenegro vs Netherlands

The Netherlands will be looking to maintain their remarkable run of form when they take on Montenegro at the Podgorica City Stadium in an intriguing World Cup qualifying encounter.

Montenegro’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup finals as a sovereign nation suffered a definite blow in the previous round as they fell to a 2-0 loss away to Norway. An indifferent 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign (W3, D2, L3) has seen Montenegro pick up just one win in their last six Group G matches (D2, L3), courtesy of a 3-0 thumping of minnows Gibraltar. Worryingly, the ‘Brave Falcons’ failed to get on the scoresheet in four of their remaining five outings in that six-game sequence, further highlighting their woeful form. To dig themselves out of trouble, the Montenegrins have to defy their disastrous recent record in competitive matches they started as outsiders, having failed to win any of their last 17 such contests (D3, L14).

Meanwhile, Louis van Gaal’s third managerial stint at the Dutch national team has been off to a flying start, with the Netherlands racking up four straight World Cup qualifying wins since a 1-1 draw with Norway on the 70-year-old’s third debut. Moreover, the three-time World Cup runners-up have returned an intimidating +16 goal difference from that four-match winning streak (GF:17, GA:1). Despite their eye-catching showings of late, the ‘Oranje’ are not off the hook yet, as they sit just two points clear of second-placed Norway, whom they will face on the final matchday. That means they can ill-afford to drop points in Podgorica if they are to retain control of their qualification fate. However, the visitors can take confidence from their impressive scoring form in this competition, having netted 2+ goals in nine of their last 11 World Cup qualifying games.