Sami Khedira (R) of Germany and Kevin Strootman of Netherland battle for the ball during a match between Germany and Netherlands. Holland take on Hungary in UEFA 2014 World Cup Qualifying on September 11, 2012. (Photo by Joern Pollex/Bongarts/Getty Images)
The Netherlands are working through some growing pains with new players and a new manager. The good news for them is that a weak group will allow them to do so. Expect them to beat Hungary on Tuesday. Follow @SBNationSoccer
Louis van Gaal is already making sweeping changes to the Netherlands. His double pivot of Jordy Clasie and Kevin Strootman is defensively terrifying and got exposed routinely by Turkey on Friday, but the Turks didn't actually manage to turn any of their great attacks into goals. The good news for Holland is that the youngsters have nine more matches to figure out how to play their roles and provide anything at all defensively for their team.
They would get torn up by any team with a decent No. 10 and a decent finisher right now, but they won't be facing that on Tuesday (or in a competitive match until they get to Brazil). Hungary may play in Ferenc Puskas Stadium, but it's been a very long time since they've had a player who even approaches his quality.
Zoltan Gera and Balazs Dzsudzsak have the quality to exploit a less than spectacular Oranje defense, but the Dutch are unlikely to be too concerned with them. They'll commit numbers forward and attempt to play with the ball in their opponent's final third again. If Turkey couldn't take advantage of the Netherlands' deficiencies, Hungary probably aren't up to the task.
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. local
Venue: Ferenc Puskas Stadium, Budapest, Hungary
TV: ESPN Deportes (U.S.). Sportsnet World (Canada)
Online: ESPN3 (U.S.)
We'll have live coverage of every qualifier in our UEFA 2014 World Cup Qualifying StoryStream. For more on the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.
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