UEFA Euro Qualifier: Netherlands vs Ireland Tips, Odds, Preview
Netherlands Win Seals Euro 2024 Berth
Reverse Fixture Was Highly Competitive
Ireland cannot directly qualify for Euro 2024 through the group stage but can still play for pride on Saturday. The Netherlands host Ireland in Amsterdam in a Euro qualifier as an Oranje win would mean they go through to Euro 2024. The Netherlands have one more match remaining after this, at Gibraltar, but will want to take care of business early. We’ll dish out some Netherlands vs Ireland tips ahead of this qualifier and take a closer look at the odds.
⚽ Netherlands vs Ireland ⚽
Day/Time:
Location: Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Head-to-Head:
In the reverse fixture, Ireland took a 1-0 lead courtesy of a fourth-minute Adam Idah penalty. The Netherlands equalized 15 minutes later, as Cody Gakpo scored a penalty of his own. Wout Weghorst scored a 56th minute winner for the Netherlands. The soccer lines priced the Oranje as -135 pre-match favorites. The Netherlands are unbeaten in their last three matches vs. Ireland but haven’t won either of the previous two meetings in Amsterdam.
Netherlands Plagued By Injury
Ronald Koeman and the Netherlands will be without some of their key players for their final UEFA Euro qualifiers games. Defenders Nathan Ake, Matthijs de Ligt, and rising star Micky van de Ven are all out injured. That means we could see a back four of Quilindschy Hartman, Stefan de Vrij, Virgil van Dijk, and Lutsharel Geertruida. Koeman has opted to play right wing-back Denzel Dumfries further up the pitch in recent matches, and that could continue here.
Frenkie de Jong is the Netherlands’ best midfielder, but he’s also not in the squad due to injury. Meanwhile, forwards Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay are also sidelined. This should provide another opportunity for Xavi Simons, who is having a superb season at RB Leipzig, on loan from PSG. Simons currently leads the Bundesliga, with seven assists.
Netherlands vs Ireland betting tips note that the Oranje have lost three of their five home matches in 2023, in all competitions. All of those losses have come to European powerhouses, as they’ve fallen to Croatia, Italy, and France. Even with all of their injuries, Koeman can still pick a strong side.
Ireland Looking For First Non-Gibraltar Win
Ireland’s only wins in UEFA Euro qualifiers have come vs. Gibraltar. Seven of their nine goals came in the pair of wins, and Ireland are 0-5 in their other matches. In the non-Gibraltar matches, Ireland has conceded nearly two goals per game but has been relatively competitive. They haven’t lost a match by more than a two-goal margin.
In October, they broke a three-game losing streak by defeating Gibraltar 4-0 on the road. Four different players got on the scoresheet. In qualifiers, Adam Idah, Evan Ferguson, and Mikey Johnston are Ireland’s joint-leaders, with two goals apiece. Ferguson is an exciting player who has the potential to be one of Ireland’s best-ever strikers. The Brighton man scored a hat trick for the Seagulls earlier this season and is only 19.
Unfortunately for Ireland, two of their leaders are out injured. Captain Seamus Coleman has been out since May, while John Egan, a fellow defender, has missed the last couple of months. Ireland lacks a creative presence in midfield that can link up play, but they’re not short on industriousness.
Match Analysis & Odds
Heading into Saturday’s match, the Netherlands are two-goal favorites. Netherlands vs Ireland tips note that the Oranje have scored in each of their last five qualifiers. Plus, the Dutch should pack more of an attacking punch now that Cody Gakpo has returned from injury. With Bergwijn out, Gakpo could start on the wing while Wout Weghorst gets the nod up front.
The Netherlands -2 sits at even odds, while Ireland +2 comes in at -130. The Oranje are also -555 favorites, but their moneyline doesn’t present much value. Bettors can take Republic of Ireland at +1400, but they’re unlikely to grab all three points here. A draw is significantly more likely, at +500, and that would be enough for the Netherlands to go through only if Greece draws or loses to France, who have already qualified.
Both teams can be challenging to break down defensively, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if this is a low-scoring match. Of all of the main selections on the odds board, under three goals at -145 looks to offer the best value.
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