The Netherlands will probably be happy with the draw that they have received as they are the strong favourites in UEFA Euro 2021 Group Betting odds to top Group C.
The Dutch have a big advantage with them playing their fixtures in Amsterdam and they could take some stopping in the first round of action at the tournament.
For this Euro 2021 Group Bets preview of Group C, we take a look at all four nations that are taking part.
We size up some of the best Euro 2021 betting options for each, and make some predictions about the group overall.
Will the Netherlands stroll to the group win? Or will someone find a way to stop the Oranje?
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Euro 2021 Preview Group C
This Euro 20221 Preview of Group C does appear to be all about the race to see who will move through to the knockout stages with the Netherlands.
The Dutch are expected to win the group with a favourable draw and home advantage. Even if they have an off-day, they should occupy one of the automatic qualification spots.
With North Macedonia huge underdogs on their European Championships debut, our Euro 2201 predictions are focused on who wins the race between Ukraine and Austria for a top-two finish.
UEFA Euro 2021 Group C betting odds
Netherlands 2/5
Ukraine 9/2
Austria 11/2
North Macedonia 20/1
* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
Euro 2020 Netherlands: Will Netherlands win Group C – Odds & Predictions?
There were certainly tougher draws that the Netherlands could have received for Euro 2020.
But they have landed themselves with a pretty nice deal as they take on Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia.
With that line-up of fixtures, it’s hard to see a scenario of the Dutch not winning this group.
The first opponent that the Netherlands will face in the group is Ukraine on June 13th, arguably the trickiest of the lot.
But the Netherlands are comfortable 7/11 odds-on favourites to collect the victory in that match* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
The Netherlands finished second to Italy by a point in their 2020/21 Nations League Group, which can be used as an indicator of the current form.
Their challenge unravelled there with a 1-0 home loss against the Azzurri.
The Netherlands were left devastated in failing to qualify for the 2016 European Championships. They didn’t get to play at the 2018 World Cup either.
That was the first time since France 1984 that they hadn’t participated in the competition. But they are back on track now.
Head Coach Frank de Boer does have a very good crop of players with the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij at the back, a quality midfield pack that includes Davy Klaassen, Georginio Wijnaldum and Frenkie de Jong.
Up front they will likely be relying on the experience and goals of Lyon’s Memphis Depay to fire them to success.
They have had some blips in getting to recent major international tournaments, but that’s behind them. There are plenty of positives in place for them at the moment.
Ukraine UEFA Euro 2021 Predictions & Odds- Can Ukraine qualify for the knockouts?
Ukraine has some rebuilding to do. They had a terrible Nations League campaign, posting a W2 L4 record in that.
That was in League A so they dropped down a level. That was against Spain, Germany and Switzerland and Ukraine conceded over two goals per game in the competition.
In 2019 they seemed to be getting themselves back on track.
But since the international football restart in September last year, they posted a W2 D4 L6 record from their games played. All but one of those was competitive.
So Ukraine are not particularly running in great shape at the moment, so they could be at risk in this group.
There is a quote of 9/2 on Ukraine winning Group C in UEFA Euro 2021 bets* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
That looks a little unrealistic to us and their big key fixture is going to come against Austria.
Those are Ukraine’s closest challenger in what is likely only going to be a race for second place.
Excitingly, that clash is going to come in the final round of group stage matches.
Ukraine is the current 17/10 favourites to win that fixture in Euro 2021 odds* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
Ukraine has not been past the group stage in any of its last three participations. In their last 9 European Championship matches, Ukraine’s record has been W1 D2 L5.
Austria Group C Predictions – Will Austria reach the knockout stages?
Looking at the form of Austria from the 2020/21 Nations League, they may well have a decent chance of beating Ukraine to automatic qualification.
In the Group C group betting, Austria is a quote of 11/2 to claim the group win in Euro 2021 group bets* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
That’s going to be hard to pull off with the Netherlands there. But a realistic target has to be that second-place finish.
Austria claimed a W4 D1 L1 record in their Nations League campaign, so will be moving up to the top tier for the next version of that.
This is just the third time that Austria has qualified for the European Championships.
They will be hoping for a better campaign after ending the Euro 2016 Group Stage with a D1 L2 record.
Since September last year when the international game came back, Austria produced a good positive W7 D2 L2 record from their fixtures through to the end of March.
Austria looks like a well-organised side, but perhaps are lacking goals to go deep in the competition. But there is a reasonable chance for them to get out of this group.
Key Facts – Euro 2020
- The Netherlands are former European Championship (1988)
- Ukraine have won 1 of their last 9 European Championship fixtures
- Austria are in the Euros for just the third time
- North Macedonia will make their European Championships debut
North Macedonia Preview – What Euros odds are on North Macedonia for their debut?
Euro 2020 will be the first-ever major tournament for North Macedonia. What a moment this is going to be for them.
They came into this after coming through the qualifying playoffs. They beat Kosovo and Georgia in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying playoffs.
At the end of March, North Macedonia pulled off arguably their greatest ever result in a fixture.
In their third World Cup 2022 qualification match, they claimed a 2-1 win in Germany.
That’s the kind of thing that will offer them massive motivation and self-belief for their Euro 2020 campaign.
North Macedonia start their campaign against Austria, which they have lost both previous matches against.
North Macedonia Group Euro 2021 odds are at 4/9 for them to finish bottom of the group* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
Can they defy those odds?
North Macedonia are a quote of 9/4 To Qualify in UEFA Euro 2021 bets* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
Group C Predictions
We think that the most interesting aspect of Uefa Euro 2021 Group C betting is going to be a duel for second place between Ukraine and Austria.
We fancy Austria to be the one that follows the Netherlands straight through to the next round.
There has been a lot more positive form from Austria since September last year, even though they have faced less top-tier opposition than Ukraine.
That little bit of momentum could make all the difference for their chances.
It’s all going to be on the line when they meet in the final round of group stage action on June 21st.
What is the situation going to be?
Both should have beaten North Macedonia and lost to the Netherlands. So it could all be down to goal difference, with one team just needing a draw out of the fixture.
Austria is the 9/5 underdog but may just be worth consideration* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
Therefore, we are going with the Netherlands First/Austria Second Forecast at 15/8* (odds recorded at 20:25 GMT on May 25th, 2021 at bet365).
We do expect the Netherlands to easily claim the top spot, as they are good enough to win at least two of these three matches.
There is a home soil advantage for the Dutch here as well and that’s just a huge helping hand.
The rest of the fixtures are being played on what for the rest, is on neutral territory in Bucharest, Romania.
