Three Dutch players one yellow from round of 16 suspension

Three players one yellow from missing the round of 16

Crysencio Summerville, Memphis Depay, and Micky van de Ven are all on a yellow card. One more against Tunisia and they miss the knockout opener (1).

That is the tightrope heading into the Group F decider. You go in top of the group, but the stakes are higher than just seeding, lose one of those three and the round of 16 looks very different. The match is Friday, the night from Thursday to Friday Dutch time.

Severe weather could hit the Tunisia match

Kansas City is the venue. Severe weather is forecast for Friday, and Valentijn Driessen flagged that everything and everyone would have to clear the field if it hits (4) (5). It is the last group match, any delay or suspension would be a mess.

Malen on the outside looking in

Donyell Malen is in trouble. Brian Brobbey's two goals against Sweden and Crysencio Summerville's bright tournament have pushed him down the pecking order. Cody Gakpo is locked in. That leaves Malen fighting for minutes he may not get.

Analysts Johan Derksen and René van der Gijp have already questioned whether he keeps his place (2). Ruud van Nistelrooy, now part of the staff, has been urged to give Malen extra attention in training (2).

Kieft says give Malen one more shot

Wim Kieft is not ready to close the book. The former Oranje striker argued Malen deserves a last chance at this tournament. His column in De Telegraaf made the case: the big players rescue the early weeks of an ultra-long World Cup with 48 teams and over a hundred matches (3).

Koeman matches Van Gaal, Gakpo and Memphis chase history

Friday's match will be Ronald Koeman's 63rd in charge of Oranje. That ties Louis van Gaal's record (6).

Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay are hunting individual marks of their own. Details are scarce, but both sit within reach of personal milestones in the tournament (6).