Tuesday Football Tips: Back Gini to use his head

Paul Higham
16 November 2021
2:00 min read

Gini Wijnaldum is backed to get a heade rin for the Netherlands against Norway

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Paul Higham thinks Gini Wijnaldum can ghost in and use his head to attack Norway for the Netherlands in their crucial World Cup qualifier.

"Wijnaldum is good in the air, has 17 headed goals to his name, and with Norway sitting back it will encourage the Dutch to attack out wide and get crosses into the box. He's worth a punt at the price."

Back Wijnaldum 1+ header on target @ 5.04/1

Netherlands v Norway
Tuesday 16 November kick-off 19:45
Live on Sky Sports Premier League

Group G of European World Cup qualifying is set for a thrilling finish as the Netherlands host Norway with both teams having a chance to win the group but also miss out altogether.

Turkey are the third team involved in this pulsating three-way battle and they play in Montenegro knowing a victory would guarantee them a play-off place and maybe even top spot depending on what happens in Rotterdam.

The Dutch just need a point to top the group, something they could have already had in the bag had they not blown a two-goal lead in the last 10 minutes in Montenegro on Saturday.

Norway, without the injured Erling Haaland, could only draw against Latvia to see them tumble down into third place thanks to those lost two points now putting them right behind the eight ball in their qualification bid.

Even a win at De Kuip may only be good enough to bag a play-off spot.

So we're set for a nervy encounter to say the least, with Norway a pretty defensively sound outfit it will likely be a cagey affair and you wonder just how brave Louis van Gaal and his side will be. The Dutch have had previous form for not reacting well under pressure.

The Dutch will need their star men to step up, and that means Virgil van Dijk keeping things calm at the back and Memphis Depay creating and scoring goals up top.

Memphis has been leading from the front throughout this campaign, with 11 goals and six assists during qualifying - including both goals against Montenegro.

A largely overlooked but often important player for the Dutch though is PSG's Gini Wijnaldum, who was always more of a goal threat for his country than he was at club level for Liverpool.

Both in the last Nations League and Euro qualifying, Wijnaldum had more shots and shots on target than anyone else in the squad bar Memphis, while only him and Davy Klaasen have managed more during this qualifying campaign.

He averages over three shots per game and although his accuracy isn't what he'd like he's proven before he can score big goals in big games.

He's obviously a short enough price in the shots on target market but there's some value in just how he'll hit the target, specifically with the 5.04/1 on offer for Wijnaldum to have a header on target.

Wijnaldum is pretty good in the air, he's scored 17 headers in his career and can be a danger at set pieces. With Norway set to sit deep for large portions of this game that'll only encourage more crosses into the box, and Wijnaldum knows how to time an arrival.

At a big price it's a nice angle in on what will be a nervy evening.

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