Germany vs the Netherlands | Tuesday 17 November | HDI-Arena | Hanover | 21:30
Germany and the Netherlands will go head to head in a friendly international on Tuesday evening as the reigning World Champions look forward to the Euros to be held in France next year. The Dutch, on the other hand, will be looking to restore some of their pride after a disappointing European qualifying showing saw them finish outside the playoff places.
To Win Match
Germany 8/10
Draw 28/10
Netherlands 33/10
Germany
Joachim Loew’s men were last in action on Friday evening in a 2-0 loss away to France. However, the match was overshadowed by a series of attacks across Paris that left at least 132 people dead. Loud explosions could be heard by the players and fans inside of the Stade de France as suicide bombers detonated explosives outside of the ground.
Although Loew named a strong team to take on a resurgent French side, he did employ an experimental system with three at the back. The visitors struggled to adapt to the new system and were outplayed for much of the first half. For all of their endeavour, the French had little to show heading into stoppage time in the first half when Anthony Martial hurdled a Matthias Ginter challenge before pulling the ball back for Olivier Giroud to score at the near post.
Germany would go close when Thomas Muller hit a ferocious shot which beat Hugo Lloris in the French goal, but cannoned back into play off the inside of the post. Andre-Pierre Gignac would eventually seal the game after he headed home from a miscued shot from Blaise Matuidi.
The Germans will be without Manuel Neuer, Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jerome Boateng and Jonas Hector who have all been given a rest. Leroy sane will also be missing after joining up with the German U21 team.
The Netherlands
The Dutch will want to put a disappointing 2015 behind them. Having been beaten in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup by Argentina, the Oranje would have been looking forward to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. They would have backed themselves to breeze through a group that included the likes of Iceland, Turkey and the Czech Republic. However, an awful run of results would see them finish in fourth place with no chance of qualification to the showpiece event.
Danny Blind’s men beat a Welsh side last time out who were without talismanic skipper, Gareth Bale. Arjen Robben returned to the squad against Wales to score twice, taking his international goal tally to 30. Bas Dost had headed the Netherlands in front on 32 minutes before Joe Ledley equalised after following up on a Joe Allen penalty. Robben would restore the Dutch side’s lead with an amazing run before Emyr Huws equalised. The Dutch would have the last laugh though as Robben surged through the middle to score the deciding goal.
The Dutch will have to get the job done without the services of Virgil van Dijk and Riechedly Bazoer who are both out with knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
Verdict: Netherlands 33/10
While they may have had a qualifying campaign to forget, the Dutch will want to bounce back against the current world champions. With Loew set on experimenting with his shape as well as the absence of several senior players, the Dutch are definitely in with a sniff here. Back them to get the job done at 33/10.
