Netherlands vs Lithuania prediction: EUROPE: World Cup – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-11-16 19:45.
[p]The Netherlands are on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will look to seal World Cup qualification (WCQ) when they host an already-eliminated Lithuania.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]The Netherlands missed the chance to book their place in the finals next summer by drawing 1-1 with second-placed Poland on Friday, but as they’re three points clear at the top of Group G, their vastly superior goal difference means that even a loss here would likely still see them top the group. Simply avoiding defeat will confirm qualification without needing tiebreakers and the omens are good seeing as the Dutch are unbeaten inside 90 minutes across their last 11 internationals (W6, D5). A home game will only serve to reinforce belief given they haven’t been beaten on home soil since October 2023 (W8, D3), so history suggests that securing a fifth appearance at the World Cup finals from the last six editions should be a mere formality. [/p]
[p]After a winless WCQ campaign so far, Lithuania (D3, L4) have long since been condemned to elimination, and while they theoretically have nothing to lose, they can still target avoiding finishing bottom of the group. Even to achieve that Edgaras Jankauskas’s side must earn an unlikely triumph here and hope Malta don’t win against Poland, which is hard to envisage given Thursday evening’s 0-0 friendly draw with Israel was their 16th consecutive fixture without a win (D4, L12). Upsetting the group leaders seems even more unlikely when considering that they’ve also lost six of their last seven games away from home (D1).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]The only previous meeting between these two sides was in September when the Netherlands ran out 3-2 winners in Kaunas.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Ten of the Netherlands’ last 11 fixtures produced an even number of goals.[/p]
[p]There were goals in both halves of each of the Netherlands’ last eight home fixtures.[/p]
[p]Three of Lithuania’s last four WCQ fixtures saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Lithuania have lost five of their last seven WCQ away games by a one-goal margin.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Donyell Malen, who scored in the Netherlands’ last home game, has netted after the 55th minute in both of his last two club fixtures for Aston Villa. Lithuania’s Fedor Černych has opened the scoring in three of his last four international goalscoring outings.[/p]
[p]Forward Wout Weghorst withdrew from the Netherlands’ squad prior to the Poland game with an injury, while Lithuania are without experienced pair Edvinas Girdvainis and Vykintas Slivka.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With the Netherlands heavy favourites for this one, backing them to win by a -2 handicap could be where the best value lies.[/p]
[p][i]Author: John Pennington[/i][/p]