Holland v Portugal Odds & Betting Prediction Euro 2012

Two goal winning margin needed for Netherlands

Van Persie - Strootman
Van Persie - Strootman (Netherlands) © GEPA pictures

Holland v Portugal Euro 2012 betting is being covered by online bookmaker Ladbrokes. The highly popular bookie has a Money Back Special running for the big game, in which Holland need to dig deep for a win. Arsenal’s Dutch star Robin van Persie, after wasting clear chances in Holland’s 1-0 defeat against Denmark, finally found the back of the net with a clinical strike against Germany. However, it was just a consolation goal in the end, but Holland need him to bring his shooting boots on Sunday. If Robin van Persie scores first or last in the Holland v Portugal match, then online bookmaker Ladbrokes will refund any losing first goalscorer bets. So that provides a good bit of coverage, because Holland really have to open the game up in search of the win. In the valuable First Goalscorer market at Ladbrokes, Van Persie is 6/1 favourite to open the scoring, the same price as Portugal’s misfiring star, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Dutch have superb backup as well in Klaas Jan Huntelaar at a price of 7/1. Online bookmaker Ladbrokes offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account when registering with the special code FB50.

Holland v Portugal Euro 2012 odds at Ladbrokes
Holland 6/4, Draw 12/5, Portugal 9/5

So what is the deal in Group B? Well, the ball is still slightly in the court of Portugal here, because they could well move through to the quarter finals with a draw. That would be enough for Cristiano Ronaldo and co, if Denmark fail to beat Germany by a one goal margin. So Portugal could shut up shot a little bit and stick with the hard work which saw them match up against the Germans pretty well in their opening match. However, they were still undone and lost 1-0 in the end, not being able to recover in time after Germany had scored, so playing that way brings big risk. There is also a scenario in which Portugal can still get through even if they lose against Holland by a one goal margin, and Denmark lose against Germany. So, Portugal have far more wiggle room than Holland in this match, but they left it late in their second group match, downing Denmark 3-2 at the death of the game. In that match Cristiano Ronaldo choked on a massive chance to make the game 3-1 and give his nation and easy ride. Just after that Denmark equalised, but fortunately for Ronaldo, he was saved as Portugal struck a late winner. For all the hype around Cristiano Ronaldo, he has simply not been able to deliver at Euro 2012. We didn’t see them best of him at the 2010 World Cup either. So is he able to carry the hopes of Portugal on his shoulder?

Portugal have not lost to Holland for over 20 years and hold an impressive 6-1 head to head record against the Dutch.

He is struggling to, because the talent around him is clearly less than what surrounds him at Real Madrid. Still, he still remains a threat, and Holland will have to be wary of him catching them out on the break. Portugal really are nothing more than an average side. They create decent chances when they decide to get into an attacking mode, which isn’t too often, and at the back they aren’t particularly solid. So the chances are that they too may have to come out and go in search of a goal. There is a big stat here which needs reading. Portugal hold a 6-1 head to head record against the Dutch. So they are on a long unbeaten streak against the Oranje. The win against Denmark was Portugal’s first win of 2012, having failed to win any of their four matches this year prior to that. So can they hold out against Holland, or will Bert van Marwijk’s men have a riposte? They need one after losing their opening two games of Euro 2012. It is with some luck that they are even still in contention, because if Denmark would have just held on for a point against Portugal, then Holland would have had nothing left to play for in this match.

The Netherlands are in a poor run of form now, having won just three of their last nine official games. This was the first time that the Dutch had ever lost two group matches at the European Championships, and when they were down 2-0 against a clinical Germany, you could see the fractures in the side. Heads were down and no-one was playing for each other. So the coach somehow has to gel the side together and get away from his two holding midfielders, because Holland have been better when they have ditched that. Robin van Persie has to inspire his side to win by a two goal margin, and still hope that Denmark don’t manage to get a point against Germany. So ultimately things may be out of their own hands, but they have to be far more positive in their approach to this game. They need to be sharper, they need to convert the chances that Wesley Sneijder has been providing, and they need to be a lot better in the centre of the park. A big match, but that glimmer of hope is there, that very fine window of opportunity. Can they squeeze through it in the most remarkable fashion?

Prediction: We haven’t seen the best of the Dutch, and hopefully they will shake up their formation a bit and try something difference .They need Huntelaar and Van Persie starting to give them options. A two goal margin is not beyond them, not if they play to their full potential. The fact that they aren’t eliminated yet is a miracle, so why take a punt on them to win by a 2 Goal margin, just what they need for a price of 6/1 at online bookmaker Bet365.