Holland can lay down a real challenge to World Cup winners France in Group 1 of the UEFA Nations League should it manage to take all three points in their clash Friday. The Dutch currently sit four points behind their opponents with a game in hand, meaning victory would cut France’s lead to just a single point prior to the final round of group games in Europe’s new continental competition.
- France has won all three of the most recent meetings between these two teams.
- Holland has won both of its most recent home games across all competitions.
- Holland has not beaten France in 10 years (since Euro 2008).
Holland has chance to prove it is on road to recovery
Having finished third at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Holland has been on an alarming slide on the international stage since then. It failed to qualify for both the 2016 European Championships and the World Cup held in Russia earlier this year – this UEFA Nations League could well be the perfect platform for the Dutch to rediscover their best form.
France, in stark contrast, is still riding high on the wave of its World Cup triumph back in July. The Blues have beaten both Holland and Germany in front of their own fans in this tournament, but this contest on the road could well be their trickiest encounter since beating Croatia to be crowned world champions just four months ago.
France comes into this match as the slight favorite to take the points. You can back the visitors to win on the road at +137, while Holland, despite home advantage, is out at +210 to make it three home wins in a row. A draw would appear to be the least likely outcome and is priced accordingly at +260.
Holland could edge close encounter
On paper at least, these two sides look very evenly matched, although France is the slightly stronger team from a technical standpoint. The Dutch, however, will have the crowd behind them and that could well be the deciding factor – and while it is never easy trying to predict the exact scoreline of any match, a narrow 2-1 win for the hosts is priced competitively at +1000 and looks worth backing.
That in turn means you can back OVER 2.5 goals in the game, which is priced at just -125, and both teams to score, which is at even shorter odds of -163. Therefore, in an attempt to increase any potential winnings from this key European clash, it is worth thinking about combo betting, which allows you to select multiple outcomes on the same game at higher odds.
For example, a Holland win combined with both teams to score is at the much higher price of +450, while a home victory with OVER 2.5 goals in the game is at +350. A combo of both teams to score and OVER 2.5 goals is at +100.
France could make a fast start
In its last outing – a 1-1 draw in a friendly match with Belgium – Holland fell behind after only five minutes when Dries Mertens gave the Red Devils the lead. France may well try to hit its hosts early as well, and you can back OVER 0.5 goals in the first 10 minutes at +333, with France at +750 to be ahead by the end of that time period. Out of interest, Holland is only slightly higher (+850) to do the same.
If France does indeed take the lead, then you could back Holland to win from behind at the high price of +1000. The home side, meanwhile, is at just +275 to score in both halves, with France coming in shorter at +225 to manage that feat.
In terms of goal scorers, teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe is in the form of his young life, and the PSG striker is at just +150 to score at any time during the game, and +500 to net either the first or the last goal of the match. For Holland, Memphis Depay, who netted against Germany, is also at +150 to get on the scoresheet Friday.
