Netherlands 2020 UEFA Euro Betting
The Netherlands is back in a major international tournament for the first time since the 2014 World Cup. They were one of the best teams in the world at the start of the 2010s with a runner-up finish at the 2010 World Cup and a third-place finish at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. However, they failed to make the 2016 European Championships or the 2018 World Cup as the Dutch relied on their old veterans at the expense of their youth for too long. Now, they have one of the best young teams in Euro 2020 thanks in large part to the Ajax academy.
Netherlands Squad Profile
UEFA Euro Odds: +1200
Coach: Frank de Boer
FIFA Ranking: 14
Best Finish: Champions (1988)
Group: C ( Austria, North Macedonia and Ukraine )
How They Got Here
The Orange were drawn into Group C in European qualifying. That put the Netherlands in the same qualifying group as Germany, making it pretty obvious to everyone that they would be the two teams coming out of this group. The Germans edged the Dutch to top the group, but the Netherlands was able to go into Germany and pick up a 4-2 win in Hamburg. It was the one blemish for Germany during qualifying.
Team Preview
Manager Frank de Boer and the rest of the national team had to be grinning from ear to ear when the draw for this group unfolded. Group C is easily the weakest group in EURO 2020, and the Netherlands is expected to cruise past Ukraine, Austria, and the Netherlands. That beats what happened to qualifying partner Germany who were thrown into the Group of Death with Portugal and France.
It took a few years for the Orange to reload, but they have plenty of young, talented players. Arguably the best of the bunch is Juventus center back Matthijs de Ligt. He is one of the enormously successful products of the Ajax academy, and his stellar play led to the Italian juggernaut shelling out €75 million for his services. De Ligt is just 21 years old and still coming into his own, yet he is already one of the best central defenders in the world.
The presence of Virgil van Dijk will make this back line one of the best at this competition. Van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world, and he is the lynchpin of Liverpool’s defense in the Premier League. He was named Premier League Player of the Year just two years ago, and he can be aggressive with opponents. Daley Blind and Nathan Ake will also help in this regard.
Van Dijk’s Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum is the steady hand in the midfield. Wijnaldum is perpetually underrated but always plays well for his home country, and he will provide mentorship for sensational young midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Donny van de Beek. De Jong, Van de Beek, and De Ligt all came up in the Ajax academy, so there is a lot of chemistry there between the young stars.
Forward is something of a weakness on this team. That’s unusual as the Netherlands has been known for its talented forwards over the years. Robin van Persie, Ruud Gullit, Arjen Robben, and Johan Cruyff are some of the most talented forwards in football history, but the Orange will need to lean on Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong in this competition.
Netherlands Schedule
GROUP STAGE
Sunday June 13
Netherlands vs. Ukraine (Amsterdam; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
Thursday June 17
Netherlands vs. Austria (Amsterdam; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
Monday June 21
North Macedonia vs. Netherlands (Amsterdam; noon ET, 6 p.m.)
Netherlands’s History at the European Championships
The Netherlands was one of the most successful countries at the Euros from 1976 to 2004. Holland made it to the semifinals of this competition in five of the eight tournaments hosted in that stretch, but they only made the final game once. That came during the 1988 European Championships.
The Dutch lost their opening game to the Soviet Union, but they bested England thanks to a Marco van Basten hat trick and then knocked off Ireland to advance to the knockout rounds. That pitted the Netherlands against host Germany in the semifinals, and they defeated their long-time nemesis 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Van Basten. Ruud Guulit and Van Basten led the Orange past the Soviets when it really mattered in the final, giving the country its only European title.
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