Greece-Holland is a match on the eighth day of Euro 2024 qualifying Group B and is played Monday at 8:45 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
Greece now dreams. It dreams of being able to participate again, 12 long years after the last time, in the final stage of a European championship. A difficult but not impossible feat, as it seemed to be at the time of the draw.
When there are only two matches left to the end of the qualifiers, the situation in Group B is only partly defined: France has already detached a pass for Germany 2024 and is practically certain to close the group in first place; behind the vice world champions, surprisingly, are the Hellenes, on 12 points, three more than the Netherlands, which, however, still has to make up a match; Ireland and Gibraltar are now out of the picture. It goes without saying that the crucial clash is the one in Athens, where a sort of play-off is being staged between Gus Poyet’s men and Ronald Koeman’s men, who are obliged to win in order not to be forced to win qualification through the play-offs. The Netherlands, we said, has one match less than Greece. And, considering that in November it will face the two selections already eliminated, in case of a win at Opap Arena it would go within inches of the goal.
The Netherlands can do no wrong
For its part, Greece must compulsorily avoid defeat, not least because it will have to face France in a month’s time. Already qualified, but still France
Bergwijn
The only way to seal the deal with a round ahead and condemn the Netherlands to the playoffs would be to win by more than four goals, an unrealistic hypothesis, however. Greece, in any case, will leave no stone unturned, despite knowing that they are far inferior to the Dutch. Who, not surprisingly, got the better of them in September with a rounded 3-0 victory. Of course, they will find a different atmosphere in the Hellenic capital, but above all a team galvanized by the fine victory in Ireland (0-2), the second in a row after the five goals they scored against Gibraltar. The Netherlands, on the other hand, failed to avenge the 4-0 first leg win over France, surrendering to a deluxe Mbappé, author of two goals, one more beautiful than the other. Koeman in Athens will probably have to do without striker Weghorst, who came off with a physical problem midway through the second half: his place will be taken by Malen.
The prediction
Greece believes in it and could put the Netherlands in more trouble than they did last September. Yes, the values are different on the pitch and Koeman’s men, in our opinion, remain favorites but we could see a more balanced match than expected, in which the hosts are also likely to score at least one goal.
The probable lineups of Greece-Holland
- GREECE (4-3-3): Vlachodimos; Rota, Retsos, Mavropanos, Tsimikas; Bakasetas, Kourbelis, Mantalos; Masouras, Giakoumakis, Pelkas.
- OLAND (3-4-3): Verbruggen; Geertruida, van Dijk, Aké; Dumfries, Reijnders, Veerman, Hartman; Simons, Malen, Bergwijn.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
