Netherlands vs Rep. Of Ireland Prediction (18.11.2023)

We’re back with the final international break of 2023 as we continue down the road to UEFA Euro 2024. It’s safe to say that things are really starting to heat up in pretty much every group as nations qualify and make their push to reach the playoffs. Today, we’ll be taking a look at what should be an intriguing battle between Netherlands and Ireland.

The Dutch have forever been known as the bridesmaids of world football but on the European stage, they tend to be a little bit more consistent. The primary hope, moving forward, is that all of their changes behind the scenes won’t impact what they’re trying to accomplish on the pitch. After all, you could make a good argument that this is actually their best squad in years.

The Netherlands fought as hard as they could against France but ultimately wound up on the wrong end of a 2-1 result. They then went on the road to battle Greece, and they picked up a sorely needed 1-0 win thanks to an injury time winner.

Ireland is a proud nation across all sporting fronts and that much is obvious. They have been to the top of the mountain in so many different practices but within the realm of football, it still seems as if there’s work to be done. They need to restore that national pride within the squad itself and from there, trust in bright youngsters that are actually willing to give their heart and soul to the badge.

The Irish fell to their third straight qualifying defeat last month as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Greece. They did, however, give their confidence a much-needed boost against Gibraltar in a convincing 4-0 win.

Ireland do not have a whole lot left to fight for in this group, whereas the hosts know that a victory here would do wonders for their qualification hopes. It’s going to be a tight game for long spells, in our book, but the end result is still going to be a Netherlands win.