The Netherlands will look to head into the knockout stages at Euro 2020 boasting a 100 per cent record as they take on North Macedonia in Amsterdam on Monday evening.
Following a thrilling 3-2 opening win over Ukraine, Frank de Boer’s side sealed top spot in Group C and a place in the last 16 with a game to spare on Thursday night as goals from Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries secured a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Austria.
It is a very pleasing start to the Netherlands’ first major international tournament since 2014 and the Oranje will be heavily favoured to make it three wins out of three against North Macedonia next.
The debutants cannot hope to lift off the bottom of Group C after successive defeats by Austria and Ukraine, with the latter confirming their early Euros exit.
North Macedonia vs Netherlands: Kick-off time
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| Photo: 22Bet Predictions |
North Macedonia vs Netherlands is scheduled for a 5pm BST kick-off on Monday, June 21, 2021.
The match will be held at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
North Macedonia vs Netherlands team news
With top spot in Group C already assured, De Boer could be tempted to make changes and rest some of his key players on Monday ahead of a last-16 tie against the third-placed side from one of Groups D, E or F in Budapest on Sunday, June 27.
The likes of Nathan Ake, Davy Klaassen, Ryan Gravenberch and Donyell Malen could all come in.
North Macedonia, meanwhile, are expected to be unchanged after a penalty from Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski meant they pushed Ukraine all the way in Bucharest on Thursday.
North Macedonia vs Netherlands predicted lineups
North Macedonia XI: Dimitrievski; S Ristovski, Velkovski, Musliu, Nikolov, Ademi, Alioski, Bardi, Spirovski; Pandev, Elmas
Netherlands XI: Stekelenburg; Dumfries, De Ligt, Ake, Blind, Van Aanholt; Klaassen, Gravenberch, Wijnaldum; Depay, Malen
North Macedonia vs Netherlands: Match preview
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| Photo: Getty Images |
Having qualified for Euro 2020 via the bottom path of the UEFA Nations League, the odds were always stacked against North Macedonia in terms of progressing to the knockout stages.
Many neutrals questioned whether Igor Angelovski’s side would even score a goal at the competition, so by netting in both defeats to Austria and Ukraine, the Lynxes have already proven people wrong in that regard.
However, Angelovski would have been disappointed with his side’s defending when allowing Andriy Yarmolenko too much time and space to prod Ukraine ahead in the first half, with Roman Yaremchuk clinical for his side’s second.
Leeds United full-back Ezgjan Alioski scored from the rebound after missing a penalty prior to the hour mark to provide North Macedonia with hope of remaining in the competition, but despite plenty of huffing and puffing they were ultimately unable to break Andriy Shevchenko’s side’s door down.
Head-to-head rules mean that Angelovski’s outfit are now guaranteed to finish bottom of Group C, so they are simply playing for pride when they travel to Amsterdam to take on group winners Netherlands on Monday.
Netherlands will also head into Monday’s meeting with minimal pressure on their shoulders ahead of facing one of the four best third-placed sides in the last 16 in Budapest on June 27.
Frank de Boer’s side were impressive once again when defeating Austria 2-0 on Thursday, with Memphis Depay’s first-half penalty backed up by another second-half strike from the marauding wing-back Denzel Dumfries, who has been one of the standout players of the tournament so far.
North Macedonia vs Netherlands: Predictions
After struggling to perform in their two games so far, North Macedonia find themselves rooted to the bottom of Group C. In contrast, the Netherlands have been dominant so far, sitting at the top of the table with six points from two games.
We predict the Netherlands will claim victory on Monday as they head into this tie with a significantly stronger squad.
Prediction: North Macedonia 0-3 Netherlands
North Macedonia vs Netherlands: Betting tips
Over 3.5 Goals
We’re predicting goals in this game even if the Netherlands do decide to make a number of changes to their starting eleven. Two of the four previous encounters between these two nations have produced over 3.5 goals, including their last head-to-head in 2009 which ended in a 4-0 win for the Dutch. Three of the Netherlands’ and three of North Macedonia’s last six fixtures have also seen at least four goals scored, so you can see why we’re expecting goals from this game.
BTTS
Both teams have scored in two of the last four meetings between North Macedonia and the Netherlands and we’re backing both teams to score on Monday. North Macedonia have scored in all of their last six international matches, with both teams scoring in four of those fixtures. The Dutch have also scored in each of their last six outings and we saw against Ukraine that they are prone to defensive errors.
4-2 to Netherlands
Even with a number of changes to their starting eleven, we’re backing the Netherlands to run out comfortable 4-2 winners against North Macedonia. The visitors are an attacking side and should cause a new look Netherlands defence problems, but going forward the Dutch are at their very best, scoring three or more goals in three of their last five matches.
