Bosnia Herzegovina Vs Netherlands
Bosnia Herzegovina Vs Netherlands Sunday 11 October 2020 – 19:45 (GMT)
UEFA Nations League
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 8 October 2020)
Preview: Sunday will usher in a new rivalry between Bosnia and the Netherlands, countries who have never encountered one another before on the international stage but will do so for the very first time, in Zenica, in Group A of the UEFA Nations League.
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Table of Contents
Bosnia Preview – Pre-match mood hinges on Northern Ireland outcome?
Prior to facing Northern Ireland in a EURO 2020 Play-Off on Thursday, Bosnia had endured a period of indifference. For example, since the start of 2019, across twelve internationals, they had scraped together a mere four wins (W4 D2 L6), all of which were against inferior sides in the shape of Armenia, Finland and Liechtenstein (twice). Meanwhile, they last managed successive victories in September 2018.
It all points to a volatile betting proposition, whose primary focus ahead of this international break falls more on Thursday’s outcome than what occurs in their Nations League Group A3 double-header versus the Netherlands and Poland. Even so, there is plenty of work to be done in this competition. The Dragons boasting a solitary point from their opening two fixtures with Italy (1-1 in Florence) and Poland (1-2).
However, Bosnia do retain a strong recent record in their own country. Losing the last two here might suggest otherwise, and that could become three depending on what unfolds against Northern Ireland, but this was a team that recently went eight unbeaten (W5 D3) on home soil through 2018 right up until losing the penultimate group game for Euro 2020 qualifying to Italy (0-3) in October 2019.
Netherlands Preview – Can De Boer finally get off the mark?
A second successive 1-0 defeat for the Netherlands, a deserved one at that, as the newly-appointed Frank de Boer began his reign as national team manager by losing to Mexico on Wednesday. De Boer, whose previous stints in management include infamously short spells at Everton and Inter Milan, has another two shots at landing a first victory at international level before players return to their clubs.
Four days after losing to a Raul Jimenez penalty in Amsterdam, the Dutch are back in action, this time in the more competitive environment of the Nations League. It is a competition they excelled in last time around, as a losing finalist, but has so far brought mixed results this season. After back-to-back home encounters with Poland (1-0 win) and Italy (0-1 loss), de Boer inherits a side with three points out of six.
From successive home games to playing twice on the road in quick succession. The first of those sees them come face-to-face with Bosnia for the first time on Sunday. The Dutch, meanwhile, failed to win either of their three away matches during last season’s Nations League, losing twice, but would navigate Euro 2020 qualifying without losing any of the four away outings (W3 D1) under Ronald Koeman.
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Bosnia Vs Netherlands Betting Advice
Despite losing only two of their past ten home internationals (notwithstanding the fact this was written prior to Thursday’s EURO 2020 play-off tie against Northern Ireland at home), Bosnia are rated as significant outsiders against the Netherlands. The latter aren’t particularly firing on all cylinders themselves, having lost their last two matches, to Mexico in a friendly and Italy in this group, without so much as scoring.
Bosnia Vs Netherlands – Key Facts
- Prior to Thursday’s Euro 2020 Play-Off versus Northern Ireland, four of Bosnia‘s last six home matches (W3 D1 L2) had produced both teams scoring.
- The Netherlands have plundered two goals or more in four of their last six away encounters (W3 D2 L1).
- Sunday marks a first ever meeting between the two countries. Bosnia are currently ranked 50th while the Netherlands are up in 13th.
Although the Dutch have fired blanks more recently, this was a team which would average 3 goals-a-game across eight matches of Euro 2020 Qualifying. They will create chances, and were unfortunate not to score in midweek when Depay rattled the crossbar when it looked easier to score. Meanwhile, Bosnia have netted in seven of the last eight at home. So I fancy there are a few goals in this.
Best Betting Odds – Bosnia Vs Netherlands
Bosnia – 6/1 (BetFred)
Draw – 16/5 (Betfair)
Netherlands – 4/7 (Bet365)
