Netherlands vs Poland
The Netherlands kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign on Friday night with a Group A1 home tie against Poland.
The 2019 Nations League finalists are in a tough group with Italy and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and they start a new era without departed boss Ronald Koeman.
62-year-old Dwight Lodeweges has taken over as the interim head coach and he inherits a young and hungry Dutch team which has won many fans over the past two years.
Poland are always difficult opponents, and they come off the back of a successful European campaign. But they will arrive at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam without their star man, Robert Lewandowski. That’s a shame for the neutrals but not for the hosts, who will be looking for a positive start to the post-Koeman era.
Talking Points
Oranje prepare to move on without Ronald
Koeman’s departure to manage Barcelona has left a void at the helm of a team which was on the up. But Lodeweges is confident he can maintain the Oranje’s momentum, and why shouldn’t he be with such a talented squad that he knows well, having worked as Koeman’s assistant over the past two years?
“Ronald has gone but football life continues,” he says. “It is very exciting but I have been around a long time. Two and a half years ago we started a nice trajectory and we all had our contributions, Ronald mainly in managing while we were more involved in the groundwork. That went very well and we will just continue.”
The team is built around Virgil van Dijk, who has been pivotal in Liverpool’s successful Premier League campaign, and he is sure to make a start alongside the experienced Stefan de Vrij. Behind those two, Valencia’s Jasper Cillessen is likely to get the nod over the returning keeper Tim Krul.
23-year-old Barcelona midfield playmaker Frenkie de Jong provides the creative muscle, and up front, the rejuvenated Memphis Depay is likely to line up alongside Ryan Babel and Luuk de Jong, with Spurs’ speedy striker Steven Bergwijn an option from the bench.
The UEFA Nations League 2020 betting odds here at SBOTOP are backing the Netherlands to win Group A1 at odds of 2.10, and if this group of players reaches its potential that should prove the case.
No Lewandowski for Poland
The big UEFA Nations League 2020 news to emerge from the preparations for this fixture is the omission of star striker Robert Lewandowski from the Poland line-up, and that can only be good news for the Oranje.
Lewandowski is the most lethal striker in Europe, if not the world, and for Poland to begin their Nations League campaign without him hands the hosts a distinct advantage.
Poland head coach Jerzy Brzeczek accepts the FC Bayern star is in need of a rest, with the new Bundesliga season due to start in two weeks time, and he will give the chance to Krzysztof Piatek to stake his claim.
The 25-year-old Hertha striker arrived in Berlin after a 27m Euros switch from AC Milan and has scored four goals in 15 appearances for the Bundesliga club so far. With five goals in 10 appearances for Poland, he has a way to go to match Lewandowski… but it’s a good start.
In Lewandowski’s absence, Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski is Poland’s player to watch, with his impressive passing range and eye for goal.
History
The Netherlands have won six of the 15 games played between these two teams with six drawn and Poland triumphing in just three.
The Dutch are unbeaten in the last seven encounters, since a 2-0 Euro qualifying defeat in 1979. Poland are yet to win in the Netherlands in seven attempts, but they come into this game on a run of five games unbeaten.
Betting Tip
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Netherlands vs Poland | Under 2.50 @ 1.91 |
| September 05, 02:25 (GMT+8) |
The latest FIFA Football Rankings suggest we have two pretty well-matched teams here, with the Netherlands in 14th position, just five places above Poland in 19th. But that doesn’t take account of the Dutch team’s steady upwards trajectory and the absence of Poland’s talisman Lewandowski.
But even without their star striker, the visitors are in good shape and will put up a fight in Amsterdam.
The Netherlands are at 1.48 to win with the draw at 3.83 and Poland out at 6.00 to spring a surprise; I think the hosts should edge it but it will be tight.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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