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Netherlands vs Scotland preview, team news, stats, live on Sky Sports

John Fleck is out after testing positive for Covid-19; Frank De Boer has no concerns about Netherlands taking on the rest of the Scottish line-up; watch Netherlands vs Scotland live on Sky Sports Main Event from 7.30pm on Wednesday; kick-off 7.45pm

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 25: John McGinn celebrates after he makes it 2-2 with Che Adams (left) during a World Cup qualifier between Scotland and Austria at Hampden Park, on March 25, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. **Please note images are FREE for first use** (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Image: Scotland face the Netherlands live on Sky Sports

Team news and stats ahead of the international friendly between Netherlands and Scotland on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 7.45pm).

Team news

Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij are likely to continue to build their partnership in the Netherlands defence in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, but Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake will also push for a starting spot.

Memphis Depay, who starred for Lyon in Ligue 1 this season with 20 goals and 12 assists in 37 league games, is expected to lead the line with Frenkie De Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum partnered in midfield.

Goalkeeper Jasper Cillesen is yet to arrive at the camp having recently tested positive for COVID-19.

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Scotland striker Kevin Nisbet says he is eager to score his first goal for the national side in the upcoming friendlies and hopes that will help him break into the team that starts Euro 2020

Scotland have opted to leave six players behind after flying out to Portugal for Wednesday night's friendly with Holland following John Fleck's positive Covid-19 test.

David Marshall, Stephen O'Donnell, Nathan Patterson, Grant Hanley, John McGinn and Che Adams have not travelled with Steve Clarke's squad to the Estadio Algarve.

All six have tested negative multiple times - including on Wednesday - since joining up with the national team last week and are not required to self-isolate, but Hampden bosses have decided not to take them with them ahead of the Dutch clash in order to be "ultra cautious".

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In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the game, Steve Clarke said: "Every time we come together I'm saying to the lads in training everybody is important and you never know when you're going to be asked to play.

"Certainly in these uncertain times you never know when you are going to be asked to step up. Hopefully they can keep impressing - they've all impressed me so far in training."

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Scotland assistant coach Steven Reid says the squad's unity and togetherness is there ahead of the beginning of the Euros next month

How to follow

Netherlands vs Scotland will be shown live on Sky Sports Football from 7.30pm; kick-off 7.45pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.

Youngsters set for Scotland debuts?

Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour, Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson and Celtic midfielder David Turnbull were included in the Scotland squad to widespread approval.

Gilmour and Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay will not be involved against Holland in Portugal on Wednesday, having competed in the Champions League and Europa League finals respectively, so Tartan Army boss Steve Clarke could give first caps to Patterson and Turnbull.

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Motherwell defender Stephen O'Donnell insists Scotland's appearance in this summer's European Championships cannot be a one-off
  • The Netherlands have won their last four international matches against Scotland by an aggregate score of 11-0. Their most recent win was in November 2017 in a friendly under Dick Advocaat, winning 1-0 at Pittodrie.
  • Scotland have scored just two goals in their last 11 internationals against the Netherlands (W1 D3 L7) - their one win in this sequence came in November 2003 in a European Championship play-off match, a 1-0 win with James McFadden netting the winner, a match that featured Frank de Boer for the Netherlands.
  • The Netherlands have won just one of their last six international friendly matches (D4 L1), winning 2-1 against Peru in September 2018 under Ronald Koeman.
  • Scotland have lost eight of their last 10 friendly matches (W1 D1), although this is their first friendly match since October 2018 when they lost 3-1 to Portugal at Hampden Park.
  • After losing four of their first five matches under Steve Clarke, Scotland have lost just two of their subsequent 14 games under Clarke (W7 D5).
  • Netherlands forward Memphis Depay has been directly involved in 27 goals in his last 24 appearances for his country (14 goals, 13 assists) and netted the winning goal the last time they faced Scotland in November 2017.
  • Since Steve Clarke took charge of Scotland, midfielder John McGinn has scored 10 goals - six more than any other Scottish player in this time. McGinn has been directly involved in 44% of Scotland's 27 goals under Clarke (10 goals, 2 assists).
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