Tunisia vs Netherlands
Netherlands cruise past Tunisia with early blitz
A swift double strike set the tone for a comfortable Dutch victory.
The Netherlands took control early on with an own goal from E. Skhiri and a quick follow-up from B. Brobbey within the first seven minutes, setting the stage for a 3-1 win over Tunisia. Despite H. Mastouri's effort to pull one back after the break, J. van Hecke sealed the result for the Dutch. Fipster's prediction of an away win was spot on, though the actual scoreline was a bit more emphatic than the forecasted 0-2.
Analysis
Tunisia and the Netherlands meet in their final Group Stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the Dutch already through to the knockout rounds and Tunisia struggling at the bottom of the group, this clash promises a tactical battle with the visitors holding the upper hand.
Tunisia have appeared in six World Cups before, never progressing beyond the group stage. The Netherlands, with eleven appearances and three runner-up finishes, bring a wealth of experience. Tunisia topped their qualifying group with a perfect record, while the Netherlands also qualified directly, leading their group with a strong goal difference. Neither side is hosting this tournament.
The Netherlands hold a significant squad quality advantage, with 22 of their 26 players competing in Europe's top five leagues, including stars like Denzel Dumfries of Inter and Cody Gakpo of Liverpool. Tunisia, by contrast, have only six players in top-tier European leagues. The Dutch lead the group with 4 points and a +4 goal difference, while Tunisia sit bottom with no points and a -4 goal difference. Recent form favours the Netherlands, who have been consistent and creative, supported by midfielders like Ryan Gravenberch and Frenkie de Jong. Tunisia rely heavily on defender Omar Rekik for goals, highlighting their limited attacking threat.
Prediction
Given the clear quality gap and current form, the Netherlands are expected to win comfortably. A 2-0 victory with a halftime lead of 1-0 is the forecast, reflecting the visitors' attacking depth and defensive solidity. Tunisia will find it tough to break down the Dutch defence, while the Netherlands' attackers are likely to exploit defensive vulnerabilities.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
Netherlands' attacking depth vs Tunisia's defense
Netherlands' attackers like Summerville and Gakpo have strong recent form and assist support, exploiting Tunisia's defensive vulnerabilities.
Midfield creativity favors Netherlands
Gravenberch and De Jong provide high assist and passing accuracy, outmatching Tunisia's midfield creativity.
Tunisia's reliance on defender Rekik for goals
Tunisia's top scorer is a defender, indicating limited attacking threat and reliance on set-pieces.
Dumfries' dual role as defender and assister
Dumfries' high assist count and defensive solidity provide Netherlands with width and crossing advantage.
No significant injuries reported
Both teams have full squads available, so no injury impact expected on key players.
Key Takeaways
This match is set to confirm the Netherlands' progression from the group, while Tunisia will be looking to salvage pride. Expect a disciplined Dutch performance that secures the points without too much fuss, leaving Tunisia to regroup for future tournaments.
- Tunisia have participated in 6 World Cups, never advancing past the group stage.
- Netherlands have 11 World Cup appearances, finishing as runners-up three times (1974, 1978, 2010).
- Tunisia qualified directly, topping their qualifying group with 28 points and a +22 goal difference.
- Netherlands also qualified directly, leading their group with 20 points and a +23 goal difference.
- Netherlands lead Group Stage with 4 points and +4 goal difference; Tunisia have 0 points and -4 goal difference.
- Neither team is hosting the 2026 World Cup.
- Netherlands have 22 players in top-5 European leagues; Tunisia have 6.
- Tunisia's top scorer so far is defender Omar Rekik, indicating limited attacking options.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Tunisia
Away — Netherlands
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
FIFA world ranking
Skhiri (OG)
Brobbey
Assist: van Dijk
Mastouri
Assist: Mejbri
van Hecke
Assist: Reijnders
Khedira
Ben Slimane
Ben Hmida
Malen
de Jong
Reijnders
Ismaël Gharbi
Brobbey
Gakpo
Mastouri
Match Statistics
Tunisia
5-3-2Starting XI
- 2A. AbdiD
- 3M. TalbiD
- 9H. MastouriF
- 10H. MejbriM
- 11Ismaël GharbiM
- 13R. KhediraM
- 16A. DahmenG
- 17E. SkhiriM
- 20Y. ValeryD
- 21A. Ben HmidaD
- 25A. Ben SlimaneM
Substitutes
- 1C. AbdelmouhibG
- 4O. RekikD
- 6D. BronnD
- 7E. AchouriM
- 8E. SaadF
- 12M. Ben OuanesM
- 14K. AyariF
- 15H. MahmoudM
- 18R. ElloumiF
- 19F. ChaouatF
- 22S. Ben HsanG
- 24R. ChikhaouiD
- 26S. TounektiF
Netherlands
4-3-3Starting XI
- 1B. VerbruggenG
- 4V. van DijkD
- 5N. AkéD
- 6J. van HeckeD
- 8R. GravenberchM
- 11C. GakpoF
- 14T. ReijndersM
- 18D. MalenF
- 19B. BrobbeyF
- 21F. de JongM
- 22D. DumfriesD
Substitutes
- 2L. GeertruidaD
- 3M. de RoonM
- 7J. KluivertF
- 9W. WeghorstF
- 10M. DepayF
- 12M. WiefferM
- 13R. RoefsG
- 15M. van de VenD
- 16G. TilM
- 17N. LangF
- 20T. KoopmeinersM
- 23M. FlekkenG
- 24C. SummervilleF
- 25J. HatoD
- 26Q. TimberM
Tunisia
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. Mastouri | F | 45 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| Y. Valery | D | 45 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| A. Abdi | D | 45 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| M. Talbi | D | 45 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| H. Mejbri | M | 45 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/2 |
| E. Skhiri | M | 45 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Ben Hmida | D | 45 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Dahmen | G | 45 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Ben Slimane | M | 45 | 6.0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Ismaël Gharbi | M | 45 | 5.9 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 0/1 |
| R. Khedira | M | 45 | 5.8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Bronn | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| F. Chaouat | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| E. Achouri | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| S. Ben Hsan | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Ben Ouanes | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| S. Tounekti | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| H. Mahmoud | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| O. Rekik | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| E. Saad | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| K. Ayari | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Chikhaoui | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| C. Abdelmouhib | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Elloumi | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Netherlands
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Brobbey | F | 45 | 8.1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
| V. van Dijk | D | 45 | 7.6 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| D. Dumfries | D | 45 | 7.5 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| F. de Jong | M | 45 | 7.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| D. Malen | F | 45 | 7.2 | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 1/3 |
| J. van Hecke | D | 45 | 7.2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| B. Verbruggen | G | 45 | 7.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| N. Aké | D | 45 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| T. Reijnders | M | 45 | 6.8 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1/1 |
| C. Gakpo | F | 45 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| R. Gravenberch | M | 45 | 6.6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 0/1 |
| C. Summerville | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Q. Timber | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Wieffer | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. van de Ven | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Roefs | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Hato | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| N. Lang | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Depay | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Kluivert | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| W. Weghorst | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Flekken | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. de Roon | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| T. Koopmeiners | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| G. Til | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| L. Geertruida | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |