England vs Netherlands
It’s a competition which has provided highlights galore.
Who would have thought the Nations League would prove so compelling when it was first launched?
I certainly didn’t as European football’s newest competition burst into action last autumn.
Even some of the players didn’t seem totally convinced if the truth be known.
Yet here we are with a trophy up for grabs and England and Netherlands keen to put a smile on the faces of their supporters after some inspiring showings to reach this stage.
Talking Points
England made it by topping a group which featured Spain and their bete noire from last summer, Croatia.
If that was tough as it was thrilling, Ronald Koeman’s Dutch had it even harder.
They overcame world champions France and their predecessors as the world’s number one, Germany, – producing some of the Nations League highlights en route – all under a new manager after they had failed to qualify for last summer’s World Cup.
It was just over 18 months ago that Koeman left English football with the sack.
Everton had lost faith with him, 17 matches into his second season, with supporters harbouring a suspicion that he always had one eye on a possible future at Barcelona – the club he graced as a player and captained to European and domestic success.
Whether that feeling was true or not, Koeman has only taken charge of half a dozen competitive games since being appointed but he has led a mini-renaissance for Netherlands and for himself as a coach.
Remember, this is a nation which reached the final of the 2010 World Cup and the semi-finals four years later under Louis van Gaal.
Then came a sharp descent under four different coaches, failing to even make the playoff qualifiers for Euro 2016 or Russia 2018 where they finished behind France and Sweden in their group – unable to recover from an early, dispiriting defeat in Bulgaria.
With a number of key players retiring and others struggling for form, Koeman opted for a new broom with a largely young squad tasked with the revival. He admitted few expected Oranje to progress to this stage.
Now they are here, they want to go all the way!
This clash is in the Estadio D Alfonso Henriques in Portugal, with European champions Portugal meeting Switzerland in the other tie.
It will be another chance to see the likes of talented Ajax youngsters such as their captain Matthijs de Ligt, admired by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Man Utd, Frenkie de Jong, former Premier League men Daley Blind and Memphis Depay and current stars such as Virgil van Dijk – fresh from helping Liverpool to Champions League success.
England have their own Liverpool men in Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as a quartet from defeated finalists Spurs in Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and captain Harry Kane – although the latter, clearly not match fit in the Champions League Final after two months’ out, will surely not start in this one.
For most players, it’s the first competitive action for two to three weeks – whether that is a help or a hindrance remains to be seen.
But with a final up for grabs, no quarter should be given in Guimaraes.
History
Jesse Lingard netted the only goal when the sides met in an Amsterdam friendly 15 months ago.
Netherlands had won the previous friendly – two years earlier at Wembley – 2-1 when Vincent Janssen (penalty) and Luciano Narsingh scored their goals on a night the crowd remembered the recently passed legend Johan Cruyff.
Their last competitive match, however, came on an unforgettable night for English football when Netherlands were beaten 4-1 in Euro 96, courtesy of doubles from Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham.
Historically, there is nothing between the sides.
Both have six victories each with the other nine clashes ending all square.
All bar five of their 21 meetings games have been international friendlies.
Betting Tip
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England vs Netherlands | Netherlands 1X2 @ 2.74 |
| June 07, 02:45 (GMT+8) |
With SBOBET, England start as slight favourites with Nations League betting odds.
Gareth Southgate’s side are priced 1X2 @ 2.52 with Netherlands @ 2.74 and the draw @ 3.15.
It’s a very similar story with Asian Handicap betting odds with England -0.25 @ 2.16, -0.50 @ 2.53 and Netherlands 0.00 @ 2.17.
Goals are expected – over 2.75 goals in fact @ 2.42 and total goal 4-6 @ 3.70.
A repeat of their most recent meeting – correct score 0-1 – will payout @ 7.00.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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