Football Results

The Netherlands is back after skipping two previous major competitions. The Dutch managed to win the first place in the group shared with two last world champions, France and Germany. After defeat in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia the English won the group leaving behind Spain and Croatia. The two national teams met the last time last year and England won their friendly played in Amsterdam by 1-0.

Netherlands

The Nations League came very handy to the Netherlands. The Dutch failed to qualify for a major competition two times in a row and they missed the European Championship in France, and then the World Cup in Russia. For the national team of such quality and tradition it equalled to disaster, but they showed in the group stage of the Nations League that are coming back and are able to parry even the best teams. They won the first place in the group, ahead of reigning world champions, the French, and former world champions, the Germans.

They defeated both these teams at home with a clean sheet, while drew in Germany confirmed the first place in the group. The qualifications for next European Championship didn’t start in the best way for the Dutch. They outclassed Belarus by 5-0, however, they faced Germany again and it revenged for previous defeat. The Netherlands were losing 2-0 but they managed to equalise the result, however, they received the third goal in the last minute for the final 3-2 for Germany. The Dutch arrived to the final tournament of the Nations League in Portugal with practically the strongest team, and the only question is will duo from Liverpool, van Dijk and Wijnaldum, play?

Probable lineups Netherlands: Cillessen – Dumfries, de Ligt, van Dijk, Blind – van de Beek, F.de Jong, de Roon – Bergwijn, Depay, Babel

England

The English played well after the last year's World Cup in Russia, where they didn’t do badly. They were stopped in the semi-finals when they lost to Croatia and then they lost again, this time to Belgium in match for the third place. The Three Lions started the Nations League with home defeat by Spain, after which started a positive series. England was unbeaten in seven previous matches and it drew only once in the same period, with Croatia away in the Nations League. They revenged to the Spaniards with away victory of 3-2 win after which match with Croatia at Wembley become the decisive one.

England revenged fordefeat in the semi-finals of the World Cup with victory of 2-1 that take them to the final tournament. The English were dominant at the beginning of new qualifying cycle for the European Championship. They won the Czech Republic at home by 5-0, and Montenegro away by 5-1. In that match they even trailed behind 1-0, but they turned the result up-side down and now they are in a good mood in Portugal. The biggest problem for the English was that the Champions League Final was played on Saturday and many players took part in it, so manager Southgate will try to get rest players as much as he can.

Probable lineups England: Pickford – Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell – Barkley, Rice, Dier – Sancho, Rashford, Sterling

Verdict:

The Netherlands is again in the top of world’s football and is able to win anyone, including England. Still, the English are in very good shape and are very difficult to beat, so we will forecast that each team will score at least by one goal.

Pick: both teams to score 1.78 - 78/100