Netherlands U21 vs Ukraine U21 prediction: EUROPE: Euro U21 betting tips on match 2025-06-17 16:00.
[p]Although typically a top-tier opponent in international football, that hasn’t really been the case for the Netherlands at these U21 European Championships so far, with the Dutch still awaiting their first win of the tournament (D1, L1). That will have to change here on the final group stage matchday if they’re to reach the knockouts, as only a win against Ukraine will be enough to give them a shot at advancing. [/p]
[p]They’ll have to quickly forget Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Denmark, which incredibly ended a run of 24 unbeaten games in U21 Euro qualifying and final tournament matches (W18, D6). Should they get back to winning ways against Ukraine here, they’ll also have to ensure they aren’t surpassed by Finland on goal difference, so there’s plenty for the Netherlands to consider ahead of their tenth H2H meeting (NET: W4, D3, L2).[/p]
[p]The picture is a little simpler for Ukraine who, after beating Finland 2-0 on Sunday, know that a point here will more than likely be enough to see them through to the knockouts. Ukraine will be eyeing up replicating their run to the semi-finals in the 2023 edition of this tournament, and although they’ve only taken part in this tournament three times before, two of those appearances saw them reach the last four. [/p]
[p]They’ll hope to garner that experience to get over the line here, and having scored twice in four of their last five Euro U21 group games, they certainly have the firepower to do so. They’re not quite as good at keeping the ball out of the net at the other end, securing just two clean sheets in their last 11 matches, but with both coming across their last three games, perhaps the defensive tide is turning. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ernest Poku’s only goal for the Dutch U21s was a 93rd-minute leveller against Finland on matchday one, but his last three goals at club level arrived before half-time. Maksym Braharu has scored after half-time in both of Ukraine’s group games so far and could now become the first-ever Ukrainian to score in all three group stage games at the U21 Euros. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Only two of the last eight H2Hs saw both teams score.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]