The Netherlands visit Greece as they look to secure a top-two finish in Group B of Euro 2024 qualifying. Gus Poyet’s team can guarantee a top-two finish by shocking their morale-depleted visitors by at least four goals on home soil. Oranje trails its hosts by three points in the standings.
Preview (Greece vs. Netherlands)
Greece is getting closer to competing in the Euros for the first time since reaching the quarterfinals in 2012. Before that, their historic 2004 title defense ended with a group-stage exit in the 2008 competition. In an effort to repeat their close victory over the Republic of Ireland from four months prior, Poyet’s team traveled to Dublin on Friday. After surviving a few early scares, including a strike by Evan Ferguson onto the woodwork. The visitors started to exert more pressure. After 20 minutes, Georgios Giakoumakis connected on Kostas Tsimikas’ cross with a powerful header. Dimitrios Pelkas’ errant attempt then fell to Georgios Masouras, who added a second goal for Greece.
The Pirate Ship easily held off a lackluster Irish XI during the second half to secure their second-place finish in Group B, three points behind Finals-bound France. If the Pirate Ship unexpectedly defeated the Netherlands, Poyet’s team would join Les Bleus in Germany with one match remaining. Even in the worst-case scenario, Poyet’s team will qualify for the playoffs because the Pirate Ship only leads the Dutch by three points despite having played one more game and facing the section leaders France in their final Group B matchup next month.
Even a fully healthy squad would not have been able to contain an on-song Kylian Mbappe. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s senior international debut is one to forget. An unpleasant oversupply of injuries hampered the Dutch preparations for France’s visit to Amsterdam on Friday. A debut goal from Quilindschy Hartman, who beat Mike Maignan at his near post. It was merely a consolation in a 2-1 defeat. Paris Saint-Germain forward volleyed home from Jonathan Clauss’s cross after just seven minutes. He then picked out the top corner with an outrageous curling strike in the second half.
Team News
There were no new suspension or injury concerns following their victory over Ireland. Greece head coach Poyet should be reluctant to change up a winning formula in Athens. Atlanta United attacker Giakoumakis will once again start up front. Masouras has an impressive five goals to his name and is only behind Kylian Mbappe in Group B’. Giorgos Tzavellas, 35, was conspicuously absent from the matchday lineup on Friday. The Atromitos player could have to wait longer to receive his 50th cap. Dinos Mavropanos teams up with Panos Retsos in front of Odysseas.
In contrast, the Netherlands’ well-known fitness problems were made worse in the first half of their defeat against France when forward Wout Weghorst was forced to be replaced by Donyell Malen after sustaining an undisclosed injury. Malen was a bright spot in the second half and should have done enough to secure a start on Monday despite Weghorst’s injury, while Steven Bergwijn also has a case to go into the attack after assisting Hartman on his goal debut. The Netherlands had four complete debutants in one game for the first time since 2013 when Verbruggen, Tijjani Reijnders, and Joey Veerman also made their maiden starts in Oranje last time out.
A few weeks ago, the Netherlands may have defeated Greece 3–0, but Poyet’s team should be a different prospect in front of their home supporters, especially with so much riding on Group B. Nevertheless, a number of Koeman’s players still performed admirably in the defeat to France. With a few minor adjustments, we anticipate that Oranje will bring Greece back to reality and maintain its chances of finishing in the top two.
Greece 1 – 2 Netherlands
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