The Netherlands will aim to cement their position atop the rankings in World Cup 2022 qualification Group G when they face Gibraltar in Rotterdam on Monday night.

Louis van Gaal's side claimed a 1-0 win over Latvia during their most recent contest, while their visitors succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to Montenegro.

Match preview

How the net only rippled once during the Netherlands' clash with Latvia remains a mystery, as after 29 shots - 19 to Oranje and 10 to the hosts - Van Gaal's side came out on the correct end of a 1-0 scoreline to keep up their strong run of form.

Davy Klaassen struck the only goal of the game - and his fourth in Qualifying - in the 19th minute to set the Netherlands on their way to a hard-fought win, one which has seen them establish a healthy lead at the top of the pile in Group G.

After Norway were held to a 1-1 draw with Turkey on the same evening, the Netherlands have opened up a two-point gap at the summit with 16 points taken from a possible 21, as well as a staggering tally of 23 goals scored across their seven games.

Unsurprisingly, Oranje's remarkable tally of 23 strikes represents the best goalscoring record out of any UEFA nation in Qualifying, but only finding the back of the net once against Latvia was somewhat of a warning sign for the otherwise in-form Netherlands.

Having put their Euro 2020 disappointment behind them, the Netherlands have now marched to three successive victories in World Cup Qualifying and - barring a catastrophe - seem destined to return to the prestigious tournament after their memorable failure to qualify in 2018.

Gibraltar's World Cup 2022 Qualifying campaign has gone largely as expected for the world's 197th-ranked nation, who have played seven and lost seven, scoring a mere three goals and shipping 28 in that dismal streak.

While there is a miniscule possibility of Gibraltar making the playoffs via their Nations League ranking, such a fantasy is not expected to come to fruition, and Julio Ribas was forced to witness his side go down 3-0 to Montenegro on Friday evening.

Adam Marusic took just seven minutes to break the deadlock before Fatos Beqiraj put Montenegro two goals to the good before the break, and the 33-year-old doubled his tally in the second period to condemn Gibraltar to another dampening defeat.

Ribas has witnessed his side concede at least three goals in each of their seven World Cup Qualifying fixtures in Group G - the most out of any UEFA nation - while San Marino and Lithuania are the only other sides to be sitting on zero points at the time of writing.

The Netherlands put seven unanswered goals past Gibraltar during their most recent clash in March - which was the first-ever meeting between the two sides - and Van Gaal's side will be gunning for an even greater margin of victory in front of their own fans this time.

Team News

Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum returns from suspension for this clash, and it would not be a surprise to see the Paris Saint-Germain lynchpin replace Guus Til in the first XI.

Van Gaal has no fresh injury concerns to work around but may use this opportunity to take a closer look at some of his fringe players, with Ryan Gravenberch and Noa Lang both pushing for starting roles.

Memphis Depay's seven strikes sees him top the goalscoring charts alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic in Qualifying, but Luuk de Jong, Donyell Malen or Wout Weghorst could provide fresh legs up top here.

Gibraltar goalkeeper Kyle Goldwin picked up his second booking of Qualifying in the defeat to Montenegro and will miss out here, so Jamie Robba ought to deputise in between the sticks.

Experienced defender Aymen Mouelhi returns from a ban of his own, though, and the well-rested 35-year-old could push Louie Annesley for a start in the rearguard.

Wycombe Wanderers attacker Tjay de Barr was not deemed match fit for October's clashes in a bitter blow to the visitors, so either Reece Styche or 40-year-old Lee Casciaro will lead the line.

Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Timber, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Malacia; Wijnaldum, De Roon, Gravenberch; Lang, Weghorst, Malen

Gibraltar possible starting lineup:
Robba; Wiseman, Mouelhi, R. Chipolina, Olivero, J. Chipolina; Walker, Torrilla, Ronan, Pons; Styche

We say: Netherlands 5-0 Gibraltar

Europe's best goalscorers pitting their wits against the continent's leakiest defence only spells one outcome, even if Van Gaal takes this opportunity to hand chances to his up-and-coming starlets.

While Oranje inexplicably found the back of the net just once against Latvia, they ought to have no problem producing a five-star performance to ease past the minnows.

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