Portugal have won their last three games, while the Netherlands come into the match on a four-game winning streak. Both of these sides top their respective World Cup qualifying groups, though it's the Oranje who've been the more impressive so far, winning every one of their six group games.
Portugal vs. Netherlands: Preview and TV schedule
Portugal meet the Netherlands in an international friendly in Faro on Wednesday.
This is the first time the sides have met in a friendly in over ten years, though they’ve faced off regularly in major tournaments since. Portugal knocked the Netherlands out of Euro 2004 at the semi-final stage, before sending them home in the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup. Their most recent clash came at last summer’s Euro 2012, when Portugal again emerged victorious and the Netherlands went home at the group stage without a single point.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal will be looking to mastermind the Netherlands' first win over Portugal since 1991, and the glory days of Gullit, Rijkaard, Bergkamp and van Basten. He's surprisingly left Wesley Sneijder out of his squad for this fixture, so Robin van Persie will take the captain's armband. Daryl Janmaat and Stijn Schaars were originally called up, but have withdrawn due to injury.
For Portugal, defender Pepe has returned to the squad, though experienced striker Hugo Almeida has been omitted, along with youngsters Andre Martins and Henrique Sereno. Cristiano Ronaldo and João Moutinho are among the stars in Paulo Bento's team.
Match date/time: Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. local, 3:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Estádio Do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
TV: ESPN Deportes (U.S. - Spanish)
Online: ESPN3 (U.S.)
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