UEFA Nations League: Netherlands vs Croatia prediction, odds and preview

The prize for the semi-final match between the Netherlands and Croatia on Wednesday is a place in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League final.

In League A Group 4, Oranje dominated the opposition to advance, while in League A Group 1, the Chequered Ones defeated the defending champions France.

The Netherlands set a significant precedent in the UEFA Nations League by winning 16 of a possible 18 points against Belgium, Poland, and Wales to advance to the final four before another World Cup campaign of largely indifferent performance.

Ronald Koeman’s team led League A in points with a total of 14, which was also the most in the top division. Only a 2-2 home draw with Poland prevented the runners-up from taking all possible points.

The 2022 World Cup silver medalists showed that they are still a force to be reckoned with on the international level back in March, easily defeating the shell-shocked reigning champions France. The Netherlands won by a score of 4-0.

With a comfortable 3-0 victory over Gibraltar, though, thanks to a brace from Nathan Ake and a goal from Memphis Depay, Koeman’s team returned to form. .

The Netherlands have only lost one of their nine UEFA Nations League games played on home soil, a 1-0 defeat to Italy in September 2020, and should they inflict any more late major tournament heartbreak on the Chequered Ones, either the Azzurri or Spain will be their opponents in the showpiece event.

After losing their opening match 3-0 to Austria, Dalic’s team bounced back to go on a five-game unbeaten streak in the group, winning all four of those games while only giving up two goals. As a result, they are currently in first place in their Euro 2024 qualifying group.

The Chequered Ones won all three of their Nations League away games in the group stage this year after previously suffering five consecutive losses, including a 1-1 draw with Wales before a 2-0 victory over Turkey three months ago. This was their first clean sheet since the World Cup group stage.

The Netherlands and Croatia will meet for the first time on Wednesday. Croatia defeated Oranje in the 1998 World Cup third-place playoff before the Dutch got some payback by beating them 3-0 in a friendly match in 2008, thanks to goals from Johnny Heitinga, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, and of course, Klaas Jan Huntelaar.