Action in Group B of the EURO 2024 qualifiers resumes on Friday with a big match-up in Amsterdam as the Netherlands faces France. After losing the reverse fixture 4-0, the Oranje will be out for redemption.
Could this be another high-scoring clash between the two? Bookmaker 10bet offers odds at 2.80 for over 1.5 first-half goals and has the odds at 7.00 for over 2.5 goals scored in the opening 45 minutes.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 12th, 10:30 A.M. (EST)
The big loss at Stade de France was definitely massively disappointing for the Netherlands, but three consecutive wins have since followed, which should have helped the team regain confidence. A positive result on Friday would be another lift for Ronald Koeman’s men.
Koeman has started his second stint in charge of the team with mixed results, winning three and losing three out of six matches. The side has been very prolific under him but there have been more than a few hiccups at the back, leaving the Netherlands vulnerable defensively. With Kylian Mbappe and his crew in town on Friday, the hosts definitely can’t relax for even one moment.
Mbappe has looked incredible for PSG at the start of the season, averaging a goal per game in seven league outings, and he’s always been a nightmare for opponents in a Les Bleus shirt as well. The 24-year-old superstar produced two goals and an assist when France beat the Netherlands at home in March and has tallied 65 goal involvements in total across 71 appearances for his nation.
Meanwhile, Koeman must find a new hero on Friday after losing several key players to injury ahead of this international break. Memphis Depay, who has always performed superbly under Koeman, won’t be with the team, and key midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners won’t be helping the team either. At the back, the Netherlands has lost Matthijs de Ligt.
The injuries put the Netherlands in a very rough spot, but they own home advantage and have previously been very tough to beat in Amsterdam. Since the start of 2017, the Oranje has suffered only five defeats at Johan Cruyff Arena.
Having lost six of the last seven head-to-head clashes, the Netherlands has clearly struggled to match France’s quality in the most recent meetings. However, historically, the two have actually been quite evenly matched, with Les Bleus winning 14 of 29 matches and the Netherlands triumphing 11 times.
