In their recent outing, the Greek team secured their second consecutive victory, triumphing with a 2-0 scoreline in an away match against Ireland. Giorgos Giakoumakis and Giorgos Masouras found the back of the net during the first half of the game, propelling Greece to the second spot in Group B.
Meanwhile, the Dutch squad faced France in their recent qualifying fixture, playing on home turf. Kylian Mbappe netted a double, giving the French team a two-goal lead, but the Netherlands’ newcomer, Quilindschy Hartman, marked his debut with a memorable goal in the 83rd minute.
France has already clinched their spot in the main Euro 2024 event by winning all six of their qualifying matches. Now, only one direct qualification spot remains up for grabs in Group B. Greece currently holds a three-point advantage over the Netherlands, who still have a game in hand. This upcoming clash between Greece and the Netherlands is poised to be a pivotal moment in determining which team earns that coveted qualification spot.
Team News:
Following their triumphant performance against Ireland, Greece’s head coach Poyet is likely to maintain the winning lineup in Athens, with Atlanta United striker Giakoumakis expected to lead the attack once again, given the absence of new injuries or suspensions.
With an impressive five goals in Group B, second only to Mbappe, Masouras is poised to strive for double digits in national team colours, holding off competition from Taxiarchis Fountas and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Notably absent from Friday’s matchday squad was 35-year-old defender Giorgos Tzavellas, for reasons undisclosed. This might delay his 50th cap as Dinos Mavropanos partnered with Panos Retsos in front of Odysseas Vlachodimos.
In contrast, the Netherlands faced continued fitness challenges, notably with striker Wout Weghorst sustaining an unspecified issue in the first half against France. Although Koeman anticipates Weghorst’s availability, Malen’s promising second-half performance may secure him a starting spot on Monday. Additionally, Steven Bergwijn presents a strong case to join the attack after his assist in Hartman’s debut goal.
Verbruggen, Tijjani Reijnders, and Joey Veerman made their inaugural starts in Oranje last time out—a first since 2013 for the Netherlands, featuring four full debutants in a single match. However, Mats Wieffer and Calvin Stengs stand ready to inject fresh energy into the midfield if needed.
Greece’s Last 5 Matches Form: WWLLW
Netherlands Last 5 Matches Form: LWWLL
Head-to-Head:
The two teams have clashed on ten occasions across various competitions. As expected, the visiting team has largely dominated their encounters with eight victories to their credit. The hosts, who clinched the European Championship title in 2004, have only managed to defeat the visiting team, who claimed the same title in 1988, on one occasion. Additionally, one match between the two ended in a draw.
In their most recent meeting in September, the visiting team secured a convincing 3-0 victory, marking their first encounter since a friendly match in 2016, which Greece emerged victorious in.
Over their last six matches in all competitions, the Netherlands have achieved a balanced record, with three wins and three defeats.
In the European qualifiers, the hosts have demonstrated their offensive prowess by outscoring the visitors 12 goals to 9. They’ve also maintained a superior defensive record, conceding two goals less than their opponents, allowing only five goals.
Prediction:
The Ethniki team entered the qualifiers with an impressive streak of two consecutive victories, both of which were accompanied by clean sheets. They’re gunning for a third consecutive win. Their home ground has proven to be a fortress, having suffered only one defeat in their last 18 matches across all competitions. In European qualifiers, they’ve secured four consecutive victories on home turf, making them strong favourites.
Gus Poyet, the manager, is likely to maintain faith in the same starting lineup, aiming to secure a win and preserve his team’s three-point advantage over the visiting side. With a crucial match against France looming in the next month’s fixture, securing a victory in this game is paramount.
On the other hand, the Oranje squad faces this challenge with a depleted roster, as several key players remain sidelined due to injuries. The absence of talents like Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Cody Gakpo, and Memphis Depay has been further compounded by the addition of Teun Koopmeiners to the injury list earlier this month.
Ronald Koeman, the head coach, finds himself with limited options and will likely field a relatively inexperienced squad for this encounter. With a game in hand over the hosts, their objective should be to secure at least a point from this fixture.
Despite historical statistics favouring the visitors with just one win against the hosts, the current form and the recent home record of the Ethniki team suggest they are poised to clinch a narrow victory. However, it’s anticipated that the visitors will put up a formidable fight.
