To successfully secure a ticket to advance beyond the group stage of Euro 2024, Poland needs to defeat the Netherlands in the opening match or at least secure a successful draw. However, it’s easier said than done, as the White Eagles have not defeated the Dutch team in over 40 years. Therefore, the scenario of exposing weaknesses in the first match, which takes place at 8:00 PM on June 16, is looming in front of Lewandowski and his teammates.
First-half odds for the match between Poland and the Netherlands
When discussing the 4 national teams appearing in Group D of Euro 2024, all 4 names have been in excellent form before flying to Germany. Speaking of Poland, coach Michal Probierz’s team has held an unbeaten streak of 8 consecutive matches, with 5 victories. Upon assembling in early June, the White Eagles had their first training session against Ukraine and easily overcame the opponent with a 3-1 score. A few days later, the team under coach Michal Probierz had their final test against Turkey and did not disappoint the fans with a 2-1 victory. However, the main striker Lewandowski has not scored in the past six months while wearing the national team jersey. This is a concerning point for the upcoming journey to conquer Euro 2024 for coach Michal Probierz and his team, as a defensive-oriented team like Poland cannot win if the attacking players do not perform at their best.
As for the Netherlands, the team is in a definite high spirit before the opening of Euro 2024. In the two friendly matches in early June, the Oranje defeated Canada 4-0 and then crushed Iceland with a similar score. The attacking strength of the Netherlands is considered more comprehensive than that of Poland in all aspects. Furthermore, they have more alternative options rather than relying on familiar faces like veteran Lewandowski. However, the Netherlands is not a team that can overpower the opponent right from the first 45 minutes, despite always adhering to the philosophy of all-out attacking football. In the 4 friendly matches this year, the Netherlands only scored 3 times in the first half, and only one match ended with a goal-scoring scenario before halftime. Coupled with the certainty in Poland’s defense, it is clear that under is the optimal choice for the upcoming match. As for the handicap odds, the experts support Ronald Koeman’s team with a -0/0.5 FT ratio. It can be said that the White Eagles have a tight defensive system, but that does not mean they are invincible. In the most recent encounter, the Oranje pushed Poland into a chasing position before entering halftime with a 1-0 score. In the last 4 consecutive opening matches of the Oranje, the Netherlands won 3 times in the first half, bringing joy to bettors in the Asian trading market. Prediction: Under 1st half goals, Netherlands -0/0.5 FT
Full match odds for the clash between Poland and the Netherlands
The statistics before Euro 2024 of Poland vs the Netherlands all indicate that over is the right choice. Poland scored 5 goals in 2 appearances in early June against Ukraine and Turkey, and both matches allowed players to place bets on over. However, the issue lies in the fact that the two teams that became the test for the White Eagles do not have the same capacity and strength as the Netherlands. It is clear that a team that regularly loses to the Oranje and repeatedly breaches Ronald Koeman’s defense is unlikely to occur. Even when Lewandowski’s teammates share the burden of scoring with the 35-year-old forward, changing the scoreline in the first match of Euro 2024 is not an easy challenge. Remembering the figure of coach Michal Probierz’s team in the qualifiers, Poland ended the group stage with 2 draws with the same result of 1-1 against Moldova and the Czech Republic. Despite defeating Estonia 5-1 in the first Play Off round, the White Eagles then faltered with a 0-0 draw against Wales. Finally, thanks to their composure in penalty shootouts, Poland was able to qualify for Euro 2024.
On the other side of the field, 8 goals scored in 2 consecutive friendly matches is a very impressive record for the Dutch players. The way the Oranje score is very diverse, from different positions in the lineup, short and quick combinations to long passes, or even goals from set pieces. But it is noteworthy that the Netherlands has not scored more than 2 goals against Poland in the past 10 years. In addition, in an important tournament, the under 2.5 goals FT is considered even more highly by the experts. Poland does not need to take risks to attack in order to seek victory against the Netherlands with a tit-for-tat playing style. What they need to do is to defend solidly and take advantage of the opponent’s mistakes to score. Even if the two teams draw, it would still be a success for the White Eagles when they take the field as the underdog. Prediction: Netherlands -0/0.5 FT, Under total goals for the whole match
