Football Predictions
At risk of missing out on a top-two finish in Euro 2024 qualifying Group B, the Netherlands head to the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens to meet Greece on Monday evening.
Oranje trail their hosts by three points in the rankings, and Gus Poyet’s side could ensure a top-two finish by stunning their morale-depleted visitors by at least four goals on home soil.
As unrealistic as that four-goal scenario sounds, Greece are inching ever closer to a first Euros appearance since reaching the 2012 quarter-finals, prior to which the defence of their historic 2004 crown ended with a group-stage exit in the 2008 edition.
H2H / Stats
Recent Meetings;
- 7/9/23: Netherlands 3-0 Greece
- 1/9/16: Netherlands 1-2 Greece
- 11/6/80: Netherlands 1-0 Greece
Team News
Coming through their success over Ireland without any new injury or suspension worries to take into account for Monday’s match, Greece head coach Poyet should be hesitant to tinker with a winning formula in Athens, meaning another start up front for Atlanta United striker Giakoumakis.
Thirty-five-year-old defender Giorgos Tzavellas was a notable absentee from Friday’s matchday squad for unexplained reasons, so the Atromitos man may be kept waiting for his 50th cap as Dinos Mavropanos links up with Panos Retsos in front of Odysseas Vlachodimos.
In contrast, the Netherlands’ well-documented fitness woes were exacerbated in the first half of their loss to France, as striker Wout Weghorst sustained an unspecified issue and had to be replaced by Donyell Malen with 38 minutes gone.
The severity of Weghorst’s affliction is unclear, but Malen was a bright spark in the second half and should have done enough to earn a start on Monday nonetheless, while Steven Bergwijn also has a case to come into the attack after setting up Hartman’s debut goal.
Probable Line Up
Greece XI: Vlachodimos; Rota, Retsos, Mavropanos, Tsimikas; Bakasetas, Kourbelis, Mantalos; Masouras, Giakoumakis, Pelkas
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Geertruida, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, Reijnders, Veerman, Hartman; Simons, Malen, Bergwijn
Verdict
The Netherlands may have put three past Greece without reply a few weeks ago, but Poyet’s troupe ought to be a different proposition in front of their own fans, especially with so much at stake in Group B.
However, a handful of Koeman’s players still did themselves justice in the loss to France, and with a few alterations here and there, we expect Oranje to bring Greece crashing back down to earth and keep their hopes of a top-two ranking alive.
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Extra tips 👇
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