
D. Malen
AS Roma · UEFA Nations League · Attacker · #14 · Netherlands · 26 yrs
D. Malen news

Netherlands vs Japan: Confirmed lineups for 2026 World Cup group F game
Netherlands vs Japan confirmed starting lineups for the 2026 World Cup Group F opener. See who is starting for the Oranje and Samurai Blue in Dallas. Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with a blockbuster clash as the Netherlands face off against Japan. With a highly competitive group that also features Sweden and Tunisia, securing an opening-match victory is paramount for both nations’ knockout stage ambitions. The tactical battle is set with both Ronald Koeman and Hajime Moriyasu locking in their starting elevens. Both coaches have put out exceptionally strong sides, balancing defensive solidity with electric attacking outlets capable of exploiting space in transition. Netherlands Lineup Netherlands Starting XI: Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven; Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders; Crysencio Summerville, Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen. Koeman has set his side up in a balanced system designed to govern possession while remaining solid against Japan’s notorious counter-pressing style. Bart Verbruggen starts between the posts. The back four features Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke alongside the imposing Virgil van Dijk, flanked by the recovery pace of Micky van de Ven and the overlapping threat of Denzel Dumfries. In midfield, Frenkie de Jong returns to anchor the engine room next to the robust Ryan Gravenberch, allowing Tijjani Reijnders the freedom to push higher up the pitch. Up front, Cody Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville will look to cut inside from the wings to support central striker Donyell Malen. Japan Lineup Japan Starting XI: Zion Suzuki; Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Shogo Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito; Takefusa Kubo, Ritsu Doan, Kaishu Sano, Daizen Maeda, Daichi Kamada, Keito Nakamura; Ayase Ueda. Hajime Moriyasu fields a highly technical side structured to absorb Dutch pressure and hit rapidly on the break. Zion Suzuki starts in goal. With regular captain Wataru Endo tragically ruled out of the tournament due to a late injury, the leadership mantle falls upon a reshaped defensive and midfield spine. The backline lines up with Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Shogo Taniguchi, and Bayern Munich’s Hiroki Ito. Kaishu Sano slots into the defensive midfield roles alongside Daichi Kamada to handle the central zones. Out wide, Ritsu Doan and Keito Nakamura provide high-energy coverage on the wings. Takefusa Kubo suppors the attack with Daizen Maeda just behind lone talisman Ayase Ueda.
World Cup 2026: Netherlands vs Japan lineups – Malen and Dumfries start for Oranje; Suzuki in goal for Japan
The Netherlands face Japan with a strong Serie A contingent in their starting eleven for their World Cup opener.Roma striker Donyell Malen leads the line, Inter’s Denzel Dumfries, whose Real Madrid ...

Football Daily | Formidables v Expendables? PSG v Arsenal could be a classic
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Here we are in the dog days of May, with the European club football season playing out a slow, sultry finale as the Geopolitics World Cup bangs ever louder on the door. Legendary managers and beloved players have made tearful farewells, shiny pots handed out, spies spotted in slapstick circumstances. But wait! The big closing number is still to come. Paris Saint-Germain. The Arsenal. Budapest. Saturday, er, 5pm BST. It’s Bigger Cup Final!Was the repeat reference to Phil Taverner’s punishment (Thursday’s letters) a rare slip on Football Daily Ed’s part, or was his original offence deemed so heinous that he’s to be named and shamed on a daily basis for the foreseeable? Just asking for a friend” – Phil Taverner.Donyell Malen played 46 times for Aston Villa and scored just seven goals, then scored 14 times in 18 games for Roma to finish as second-top scorer in Serie A this season after arriving in January. This might explain how Scott McTominay won Serie A player of the season, and why Italy failed to qualify for their third World Cup in a row” – Noble Francis.Re: George Smith’s letter. Not only is the $100+ fee for a train ride to the MetLife Stadium gouging, it is virtually mandatory. There is no pedestrian access during GWC, and the Meadowlands area has swamps that are foul with toxic waste” – Steve Hibbert [Big Website gave it a go – Football Daily Ed]. Continue reading...
