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England face the Netherlands in an international friendly on Friday night that will give Gareth Southgate the opportunity to experiment and tinker with his side ahead of the World Cup in Russia this summer.

But the Three Lions will understand the importance of a result against decent opposition too, building their confidence as a collective for a tournament that will be deemed a success if they reach the latter knockout stages.

So, can history tell us anything about what to expect on Friday at the Amsterdam Arena? Here’s a look at the history of this international clash…

Head-to-Head

There really isn’t a great deal to choose between both countries from their 20 meetings thus far, separated by just one win and three goals with Oranje and the Three Lions both keeping six clean sheets and never incurring a single red card – perhaps we could see a first on Friday night.

Despite being ranked higher than the Netherlands in the current FIFA rankings though, England have actually beaten their coming opponents just once since 1982 – the famous 4-1 win at Euro 1996. The Netherlands, meanwhile, have claimed five of their six victories since then, including a 2-1 win in a Wembley friendly almost exactly two years ago.

Top Scorer – Marco van Basten

Aside from Tommy Lawton who scored four goals against the Netherlands in a single game way back in 1946, Oranje legend Marco van Basten has netted the most times in this fixture – grabbing a stunning hat-trick back in 1988. Bryan Robson did his best to keep the Three Lions in the tie, but van Basten demonstrated his lethal prowess by opening the scoring with a piece of incredible individual skill – flicking the ball beyond a defender before rifling home – and then completed his hat-trick in the second half with a typically clinical finish and a volley at a corner.

The most any other England player has scored in this fixture is two goals, a tally Teddy Sheringham, Alan Shearer and Jermain Defoe all share.

The classic contest – England 4-1 Netherlands

It’s long forgotten that the win and the healthy scoreline was largely irrelevant as the Three Lions needed only a draw to progress from the group stages, but that should nonetheless take away from what was probably the best single performance England have produced at a major tournament since lifting the World Cup more than half a century ago as a potent strike-force of Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham both bagged braces.

Shearer converted a penalty won by Paul Ince, who tricked the ball around Danny Blind, and then added to his haul with England’s third when some excellent work from Paul Gascoigne, Steve McManaman and Sheringham resulted in a square ball to the Newcastle icon just a few yards out from goal.

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Sheringham, meanwhile, headed home a corner and then reacted fastest when Darren Anderton’s shot was parried into the centre of the penalty area. A young Patrick Kluivert grabbed a late consolation, but at that point England’s players were already in celebration mode.

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There will still be time to make amends, but Saturday’s clash at the London Stadium feels like an all-or-nothing encounter for West Ham and Southampton.

A win will give them three vital points and a huge boost of confidence ahead of tricky final run-ins; a defeat will cement them at the very heart of the Premier League’s relegation battle with just a handful of games remaining.

So, ahead of what appears a season-defining fixture for both clubs, which manager faces the bigger injury problems, how will they look to set up their sides, and who enters the 3pm kickoff in better form? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of West Ham vs Southampton…

Form Guide

Recent form doesn’t make particularly positive reading for either side heading into the weekend. While Saints will feel somewhat more positive than West Ham, having lost just twice in their last six Premier League games and sealed a huge win over Wigan before the international break, there has been a mere two-point difference from their previous six results in the top flight. That is despite Liverpool being the only member of the big six either club has faced during that time.

In terms of clean sheets and goals scored too, the gap between the Hammers and Saints is once again marginal – they’ve picked up just one clean sheet apiece, while Southampton have netted one more than West Ham’s miserly six strikes. Scoring goals has been a real problem for both teams; although West Ham at least boast two players with two goals to their name, Southampton’s top scorer from the last six has been centre-back Jack Stephens. Accordingly, Saints fans will be desperate for Charlie Austin to return to the fold this weekend.

Team News

Having lost the last three games by conceding a staggering eleven goals, we’re predicting a real shakeup from David Moyes this Saturday – not least because he’ll have some key players absent through injury as well. Indeed, although there are only three changes in personnel from the starting XI that lost 3-0 to Burnley last time out, the structure of the team could drastically change from a dysfunctional 3-4-3 to a 4-2-3-1.

That should give West Ham more offensive threat with Javier Hernandez brought back into the team to lead the line, closely supported by three attacking players in Michail Antonio, Marko Arnautovic and Joao Mario. The other big talking point is who will start between the sticks. After failing to get on the pitch for England and committing a huge error against the Clarets before the international break, we’re tipping Adrian to come in for Joe Hart.

Having picked up a momentum-building 2-0 win over Wigan using 4-4-2, we’re expecting Mark Hughes to stick to the same system for a game that Southampton really need to win, once again addressing Saints’ shortage of goals this season by deploying two strikers with Manolo Gabbiadini tucking in just behind January signing Guido Carrillo.

In fact, the only predicted change from the starting XI at the DW Stadium is winger Nathan Redmond coming in for Sofiane Boufal. The Moroccan showed glimpses of his quality against the League One outfit but after an hour was replaced by the English attacker – who linked up with Cedric Soares to assist the Portuguese international for the late second goal.

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Of course, the big selection question rests on Charlie Austin, Saints’ top scorer this season who has been sorely missed in recent months. We reckon a starting berth will be just too much for him, but if he’s available Hughes will surely include the former QPR man in the matchday squad.

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According to Belgian outlet HLN, Newcastle are lining up a summer swoop for Gent winger Moses Simon.

What’s the story?

The Magpies were present to watch Simon in action when Nigeria played Serbia last week.

While many suspected the club were there purely to check in on Aleksandar Mitrović, the report claims they also had a presence at Nigeria’s friendly against Sweden.

Rafa Benitez is desperate to keep hold of Kenedy this summer, but Simon’s versatility could give extra options across the front three whether the Brazilian sticks around or not.

HLN claims the player is aware of Newcastle’s interest and is dreaming of a move to the Premier League.

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Good addition for Newcastle?

Valued at £4.5million by Transfermarkt, Simon is great with both feet, and can play anywhere across the front three, meaning Benitez could potentially partner the Nigerian international with the likes of Kenedy and Dwight Gayle.

His most appealing trait is his blistering pace, which coupled with his direct dribbling style has wowed spectators in Belgium this season.

The 22 year-old is still a little raw, and will need to improve his end product, though he has managed five goals and two assists in 20 league games this season.

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At just 22, there is still plenty of room for improvement for Simon, who has already earned 16 international caps for Nigeria. His contract will enter its last year this summer, meaning a move for the winger would not be a particularly pricey one.

While he is not going to transform the Magpies’ attack, Simon could be a great long-term signing and a versatile cog in Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle machine.

Newcastle fans, would you like to see a move for Simon this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

The race for the Premier League Golden Boot has heated up between Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.As it stands, there will be a straight shootout between the pair in the closing stages of the season, with Salah leading the way on 29 and Kane just on his opponent’s shoulder with 25.Manchester City hitman Sergio Aguero is not sitting too far behind with 21 goals to his name, but the Argentine has not scored in the top flight since February.Tottenham have added a bit of spice to the rivalry by launching an appeal to get Christian Eriksen’s winning goal against Stoke City switched to Harry Kane.https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/harry-kane-100.mp4The England international insisted that he got a touch on the ball before his teammate’s free kick hit the back of the net during Spurs’ 2-1 triumph last weekend, and the Premier League’s Goal Accreditation Appeals Panel has agreed.A statement from the league has confirmed that Tottenham’s appeal was successful, which means that Kane, who is hunting for a third successive Golden Boot, has closed the gap to four goals.Unsurprisingly, Liverpool fans were quick to mock Kane for an apparent desperation to add to his goal tally, and even Salah himself appeared baffled at the lengths that Spurs went to.

Kane has a slight edge heading into the run-in given that his team have six games left to play, while the Reds have one fewer, so with that in mind, will the 24-year-old pip Salah to the honour?

Let us know by voting below…

Morgan Schneiderlin has told beIN Sports this week that his future lies outside the Premier League, and Everton fans are having their say on the Frenchman.

Despite not scoring enough goals and struggling with injuries in defence, Everton’s biggest problem this season has no doubt been the midfield.

With the exception of Idrissa Gueye, the Toffees’ midfield is slow, ponderous, and sometimes just downright lazy.

Wayne Rooney hasn’t impressed in his new deeper role, Tom Davies hasn’t yet flourished into the player he most certainly can be, and Morgan Schneiderlin has been the worst of the lot.

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The Frenchman joined from Old Trafford with high expectations, but his uninspiring performances have left fans just waiting for the day he leaves the club, and that sounds like it could be soon.

“If I have to leave Everton, I’d like a different challenge than the Premier League. I’ve already been to Southampton, Manchester United and Everton. I don’t see myself going anywhere else in England,” Schneiderlin said.

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The 28 year-old has played 26 in the Premier League this season, but despite averaging an impressive 2.6 tackles and 3.8 interceptions per game, fans are fed up with his lazy attitude.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

As reported by The Daily Star, Leicester City are interested in appointing Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez this summer.

What’s the story?

The pressure is on Claude Puel at the Foxes after they were thrashed 5-0 by Crystal Palace at the weekend, the fourth game in succession that Leicester City have failed to win.

The Star report that they are now interested in replacing him with Newcastle boss Benitez this summer, as the club look to achieve regular finishes towards the top-end of the table.

The paper say that uncertainty around the future ownership of the Magpies could open the door for Leicester to make their move for the Spaniard.

Will Benitez leave Newcastle?

Despite all the drama surrounding potential takeovers at St James’ Park, Benitez has shown tremendous loyalty to Newcastle over the last couple of years and appears to have a genuine affinity for the club and their supporters.

After a year of consolidation in the Premier League, the Magpies are now well placed to push on to a new, brighter top-flight future and it’s hard to imagine Benitez not spearheading that.

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Leicester have been fairly unpredictable in terms of their treatment of managers over the last few seasons so it’s not even that attractive an option for the former Liverpool boss.

He has unfinished business in the North East and despite anxiety he could leave, looks set to help them progress further next term.

Prior to Manchester United’s 0-0 bore draw against West Ham on Thursday night, Sky Sports showed old footage of a meeting between the sides from almost two years to the day.

The match in question was the final game at Upton Park, where a topsy-turvy encounter saw the Hammers emerge 3-2 victors on a night United didn’t even realistically look like being party-poopers.

Winston Reid grabbed the headlines with his late winner but one other aspect of the match was striking; Marcus Rashford was fielded at the sole centre-forward for Louis van Gaal’s side.

Not out wide, on the left or the right. Through the middle. Like Harry Kane, he was a young man being trusted to carry the brunt of a major side’s attacking thrust.

Rashford has played so intermittently through the centre under Jose Mourinho that it has been easy to forget that is his position, that’s where he came through as a boy.

There aren’t many Premier League strikers who would flourish out wide and it would appear that Rashford’s speed is the main reason he has been sent out there as Mourinho has preferred to spend on high-earning centre-forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku.

So Rashford is an England international who doesn’t play every week, rarely plays consecutive games, out of position when he does play and still delivers on the big occasion.

A goal in the home derby against City, a double at home to Liverpool, a brace against champions-elect Chelsea last season as well. But his attitude is first rate and he has never agitated for a move – permanent or temporary – away from his boyhood club.

That has not proved enough to spare him from the ire of Jose Mourinho, but it should be. There isn’t a single player at the club Manchester United fans would rather see succeed at the club than Rashford but he has yet to earn the manager’s total trust.

Another who deserves better is Anthony Martial. The Frenchman was a panic buy from van Gaal; an overpriced swoop in the transfer window’s final throws after a 2-1 defeat against Swansea in the early days of the 2015/16 season underlined United’s desperate need for speed in attack.

Martial dealt with the pressure instantly, following up that debut goal against Liverpool by being United’s only consistent source of rapidity and style en route to winning the FA Cup.

Throughout Mourinho’s reign, he has struggled for gametime but he is always going to be unlikely to flourish when United are so stuttering, so cautious and he is not given a spurt of games to try to affect that.

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His calmness is mistaken for surliness – in a similar way to a young Nicolas Anelka – and that has made it easier for Mourinho to criticise his attitude.

He is only closer to the exit door than Rashford because he lacks the same childhood affinity with the Old Trafford club; Mourinho’s treatment of both players is harsher than they deserve.

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Tottenham fans are heaping praise on Jonjo Shelvey, and some are even hoping they sign the Newcastle midfielder this summer.

Jonjo Shelvey showed exactly why he deserves a World Cup call-up this week, as the Newcastle talisman dominated Tottenham’s midfield at Wembley.

Rafael Benitez’s side lost 1-0 to Spurs on Wednesday night, but the fearless Magpies certainly gave it their all, and plenty of home fans were impressed by what they saw.

The former Liverpool midfielder has been at the heart of all things good for Newcastle this season, as the spine of captain Jamaal Lascelles and Shelvey has carried Newcastle away from a relegation scrap.

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He was at his very best again at Wembley on Wednesday, supplying a remarkable four key passes in the match, along with 13 successful long balls.

The 26 year-old also gave the hosts a fright when he struck the woodwork with a wonderful free kick, and helped his side out defensively with two tackles and two interceptions.

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With Mousa Dembele looking likely to leave Tottenham and Eric Dier not at his best this season, some Spurs fans are hoping they swoop for Shelvey this summer, while others are just praying he’s in the World Cup squad.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

Liverpool are flying high at the moment as they prepare to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Kiev on Saturday evening.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have an opportunity to claim the Reds’ sixth European title, but they face a tough task against a team that are hunting for their third consecutive crown in the competition.

Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have stolen most of the headlines this season due to their impressive form up front.

It is safe to say that Liverpool are not struggling in the attacking department, but they still have vulnerabilities in defence.

Virgil van Dijk certainly improved the back line when he arrived at the club from Southampton in January.

Dejan Lovren has had a boost in confidence, but the Croatian is prone to mistakes, and it is fair to suggest that the Reds need to be in the market for another defender.

As well as Lovren, Liverpool have Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan as options for Van Dijk’s centre-back partner, but they may need better quality if they want to take that next step.

With that in mind, we asked you if the Merseyside outfit should consider a summer swoop for Leicester City defender Harry Maguire.

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The England international, who earned a spot in the World Cup squad, joined the Foxes from Hull City last year and he has caught the eye again following consistently solid performances in the Premier League.

Judging from our results, Liverpool fans would be happy if Maguire was to sign in the next few months.

Most football fans want their club to wrap up transfer business early, particularly when a global tournament is being staged.

It seems that Liverpool have got the message, which has made some Arsenal supporters concerned.

The Merseyside outfit surprised everyone by announcing the signing of midfielder Fabinho from Monaco on Monday.

The Reds now have two new midfielders to add to Jurgen Klopp’s squad following the signing of Naby Keita last summer.

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Arsenal are yet to bring in a new face, but that is not too surprising given that Unai Emery was only recently appointed as the club’s new manager.

The Spaniard will need some time to get the players that he wants, but some Arsenal supporters are concerned by Liverpool’s dominance.

The Merseyside outfit may have lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final, but it was not all disappointing given that they finished fourth in the Premier League.

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The Gunners had to settle for sixth place and were 12 points adrift of their rivals.

Some supporters are not too worried about Liverpool’s swift buying in the transfer market, but others are.