Netherlands vs France prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-10-12 18:45.
Since a crushing period in June that saw the Netherlands eliminated in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League by Croatia, then beaten in the third-place play-off by Italy, the Oranje have refocused and kept their UEFA European Championship qualifying (ECQ) campaign on course. A routine victory over Greece was followed by a comeback success against the Republic of Ireland, results that kept their qualifying fate in their own hands.
Ronald Koeman’s men can now close the gap to Group B leaders France to just three points, while they’d also like to avenge their heavy 4-0 H2H defeat in their ECQ opener. That’ll be easier said than done though, as the Netherlands have failed to win their last three home ECQ outings against nations currently ranked in FIFA’s top 50 (D1, L2), although they boast a very strong H2H record against Les Bleus on home soil (W8, D2, L3).
France will make this trip to the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam following a 2-1 friendly loss to Germany, representing their only setback of 2023 (W5). A return to competitive action should be beneficial for Didier Deschamps’ men, who emerged victorious in their opening five ECQ outings by an aggregate score of 11-0, indicating a strong chance of securing their ninth consecutive appearance at a European Championship.
Victory here would secure safe passage to the finals in Germany for Les Bleus, but if results elsewhere work in their favour, even avoiding defeat could be sufficient as France go in search of their first Euros crown since 2000. They ought to be confident given that they’ve won each of their last five ECQ matches on the road with a clean sheet, but they also struggle when the calibre of opposition goes up a notch, failing to win any of their last six away ECQs against nations currently ranked in FIFA’s top-50 (D4, L2).
Players to watch: Wout Weghorst could be in for a late treat after closing the scoreline in his last four goalscoring appearances for the Netherlands, including their most recent two ECQs. He could be upstaged by Antoine Griezmann however, who has found the net within the first 15 minutes in three of the previous six H2Hs.
Hot streak: The Netherlands’ previous five ECQs have all seen the opening goal scored in the first 25 minutes.