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Heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands clash at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany as 2020 UEFA Euro Championship qualifying tournament continues.
Germany and the Netherlands are bracketed in Group C of the competition and are currently ranked 2nd and third, respectively, in the group behind current leaders Northern Ireland who have won their first four matches for a total of 12 points.
Germany
Germany is one of the most successful teams in international competition. As far as the European Championship is concerned, they have won it three times while also finishing as runner-up thrice. Germany has finished third in the last two editions of the Euro but they were knocked out in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Likewise, Germany finished third in Group A of the inaugural UEFA Nations League and will be relegated to Group B next year.
The Die Mannschaft are currently ranked 2nd in Group C of the Euro 2020 qualifying tournament. They have won all three matches they have played so far and have earned the maximum 9 points for three games played. Germany defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in their opener and they followed that up with a 2-0 shutout of Belarus. In their last match, they massacred Estonia 8-0.
This was Germany’s squad when they faced Estonia last June 11, 2019:
- Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno (Arsenal), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Defenders: Mathias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Thilo Kehrer (Paris Saint-Germain), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), Nico Schulz (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Stark (Hertha Berlin), Niklas Süle (Bayern Munich), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Midfielders/ forwards: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City), Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sane (Manchester City), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
Netherlands
The Netherlands did not qualify for the 2016 European Championship and neither did they make it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, finishing third in the Group A qualifiers behind France and Sweden. However, the Oranje qualified for Group A of the first-ever UEFA Nations League where they would qualify in the final four. They lost to host Portugal in the final but a runner-up finish in Group A was good enough to announce that they are back.
So far, Netherlands is third in Group C of the Euro 2020 qualifiers with one win and one loss in two matches played. Memphis Depay scored two goals to lead them to a 4-0 shutout of Belarus in their opener last March 21, 2019. However, the Dutch dropped a 2-3 contest to Germany in their second game three days later.
This was the Netherlands squad which played in their UEFA Nation League final match against Portugal last month:
- Goalkeepers: Marco Bizot (AZ Alkmaar), Jasper Cillessen (FC Barcelona), Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
- Defenders: Nathan Ake (Bournemouth), Daley Blind, Matthijs de Ligt (both Ajax Amsterdam), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Denzel Dumfries (PSV Eindhoven), Hans Hateboer (Atalanta), Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
- Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Davy Propper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kevin Strootman (Olympique Marseille), Donny van de Beek (Ajax Amsterdam), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
- Forwards: Ryan Babel (Fulham), Steven Bergwijn, Luuk de Jong (both PSV Eindhoven), Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyon), Quincy Promes (Sevilla)
Who Wins?
Germany enters this matchup as the soccer betting favorites to beat the Netherlands. The Germans are unbeaten in their last five games with three wins and two draws. They have won their last three matches played. On the other hand, the Netherlands is 2-1-2 in their last five outings. The Dutch have alternated wins and losses in their last four games played.
Head to head, these pair have played each other a total of 43 times before. Germany has won 16 times while the Netherlands have won 11. They have figured in a draw in a total of 16 matches. In their previous meeting in this very tournament, Germany defeated Netherlands 3-2 in Amsterdam.
However, these teams also played twice at the UEFA Nations League tournament in League A competition. The Netherlands won 3-0 in October 2018 while the teams figured in a 2-2 draw a month later. Netherlands finished runner-up in that tournament while Germany finished third in League A and will be relegated to League B during the next tournament.
Germany’s exit at the Nations League came after a dismal performance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup where they failed to make it out of the group stage. However, starting with their 3-2 win over the Netherlands last March, Germany has won three matches in a row. On the other hand, the Netherlands missed the 2016 EURO and the 2018 FIFA World Cup but a runner-up finish at the UEFA Nations League proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with.
Germany has won twice in their last five head to head meetings but has done so by a one-goal difference. They figured in a draw in two of those five matches and Netherlands’ 3-0 win last October is the only clear victory in their last five games. I like the odds for a draw here and would go for it. However, if you want me to pick a winner, I will go with Germany who will be at home. Prediction: Draw, but if you want a winner, go with Germany
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