Netherlands vs Ireland prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-11-17 19:45.
With one foot on the plane to Germany and a play-off place secured as a contingency, the Netherlands know that all they need to do here is beat Republic of Ireland whose hopes of making next summer’s finals are already over. However, if Greece lose to France, the Dutch will have qualified no matter this result.
One look at the table paints a picture of an Oranje side who have conceded more than a goal per match on average, although six of their seven goals against, and both defeats (W4, L2), came against group leaders France. The only other side to score against them was none other than Ireland, in an eventual 2-1 win for the Dutch which maintained their perfect winning H2H record in this sphere (W4).
Also yet to draw a game in this qualification cycle (W2, L5), Ireland enter their final game in Group B with nothing but pride to play for. It seems this will also likely be boss Stephen Kenny’s penultimate game in charge of the side, with the pair of games in this break bringing up 40 games overseen for the Irish, a run which has had its ups and downs, but fatally, no major tournament appearance.
The highlight of Kenny’s tenure is arguably a 3-0 win over Scotland, but with each of his ten other victories at the helm (W11, D10, L17) coming against the likes of Gibraltar, Latvia, Malta and other lowly rated sides, it is difficult to make a case for them beating the Netherlands. Their H2H record this century against the hosts is actually quite admirable though (W2, D2, L2), with their last appearance on Dutch soil seeing all-time top scorer Robbie Keane net the winner back in 2001.
Players to watch: Rising Dutch star Xavi Simons kept his Bundesliga goal contribution to game ratio at 1:1 (G4, A7) last weekend, although he’s yet to net for the senior national setup. With the fitness of Evan Ferguson unclear despite his call-up, Ireland may rely on Adam Idah for an outlet once again. He scored their only goal in the reverse fixture and helped to end Norwich’s rotten six-game winless run with a goal at the weekend.
Hot stat: The Netherlands have failed to win five of their last ten home European qualifiers (W5, D1, L4).