Netherlands take on the visitors Croatia in the semifinal match of UEFA Nations League playoffs. The match will be played on Wednesday, June 14th at De Kuip (Rotterdam).
Netherlandsnational team, known as the "Oranje," has recently cultivated a trend of reappointing their head coach. Not long ago, Dick Advocaat led them, but after a disappointing performance in the European Championship and a tough start to the qualifiers, van Gaal took over. It was Louis who won last year's UEFA Nations League group, and most importantly, he managed to rectify the team's performance in the qualifiers, securing direct qualification for the World Cup. In Qatar, they didn't achieve triumph, but their performance was commendable. They confidently reached the playoffs, where they eliminated the United States, and in the quarterfinals, they managed to come back from a 0-2 deficit against Argentina. The future champions won only in a penalty shootout, with Emiliano Martinez once again showing his skills in that aspect. After the tournament, as anticipated, the coach changed, and once again a non-newcomer took charge. Ronald Koeman previously had a successful tenure, including guiding the team to Euro 2020, but he left before the tournament to join Barcelona. Ronald's new start didn't go well, with a 0-4 loss to France, and the subsequent 3-0 victory against Gibraltar, an underdog, failed to impress. Now they need to show their class, but without several key leaders, from Cillessen to Depay.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Croatia have been highly regarded since the 1990s, essentially since the restoration of their independent national football existence. However, it is under their current coach, Dalic, that they have achieved their best results. Zlatko was able to deliver the maximum result by leading them to the runner-up position in 2018. Afterward, the team underwent a rejuvenation process, and, for example, the previous qualification campaign was not without difficulties, securing the top spot in the group ahead of Russia only in the final round due to an own goal. But last year, Croatia reached a new peak. They managed to reach the medals again in Qatar, albeit only the "bronze" this time. They also won their UEFA Nations League group a year ago. It's worth noting that after the new major tournament, the squad remained largely intact, with only Vrsaljko and Lovren, who had already lost their places in the starting lineup, leaving. However, Modric and other veteran leaders are still part of the team. They started a new cycle in March, but suffered a disappointing setback with a late equalizer from Wales, resulting in a 1-1 draw. However, they bounced back with a 2-0 away win against Turkey.
The teams first played against each other in 1998, competing for the World Cup "bronze" medal. Croatia emerged victorious in their debut tournament. Ten years later, the Dutch sought revenge with a 3-0 victory, albeit in a friendly format. The Dutch are considered the clear favorites in this matchup. However, it underestimates Modric and his teammates. One can try placing a bet that the "Checkered Ones" will not lose.
Prediction for the match: Croatia not to lose (X2).
