Netherlands vs Spain predictions, odds and betting tips

Netherlands vs Spain best bets

Spain to win – 6/4 with BetMGM
Over 2.5 goals – Evens with bet365
Lamine Yamal to score any time – 13/5 with Betfred

Netherlands vs Spain odds

Find the latest match odds for Netherlands vs Spain. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.

Netherlands vs Spain predictions

It is understandably not as well remembered as their success at the European Championship last summer, but Spain were also victorious in the last edition of the Nations League.

A 2-1 defeat of Italy in the semi-finals preceded a 0-0 draw with Croatia in the 2022/23 showpiece, after which Spain held their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties.

That gave Luis de la Fuente’s side the prize and, looking back now, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that their triumph in the summer of 2023 was a vital building block for what would follow 12 months later.

It is hard to begrudge any team a trophy after six or seven matches at a major tournament, but Spain were particularly worthy winners at Euro 2024.

They were the only side to win all three first-round games despite being drawn in the so-called group of depth alongside Croatia, Italy and Albania.

With the exception of a last-16 tie with Georgia, Spain had a tough route to the final. They got the better of hosts Germany in the quarters and France in the semis, before deservedly beating England 2-1 in the final.

There was little time for Spain to celebrate their achievement, however, with the Nations League getting under way in September last year.

La Roja cruised to top spot in their group and the bookies have them down as favourites to retain their crown, although a quarter-final clash with the Netherlands will not necessarily be straightforward.

The Dutch reached the semis of Euro 2024 having had relatively little to cheer about in the few preceding tournaments. Their presence in the last eight of the Nations League is another sign that the Netherlands have got their act together again.

Ronald Koeman, now in his second spell in charge of his country, still divides opinion, but there is no reason why the Netherlands should not be able to give Spain a game in the first leg in particular.

Still, the Oranje finished a distant second in their group behind Germany and the worry is that they have fared pretty poorly against major teams over the last couple of years.

What better time than Thursday night to rectify that record by taking the biggest scalp on the continent?

Netherlands vs Spain betting tips

The Netherlands face Spain on Thursday night – who will come out on top in this match?

Spain to win

It is worth taking a closer look at the Netherlands’ recent record against so-called European and global heavyweights.

Since World Cup 2022, the Dutch have faced Germany, England, France, Italy, Croatia and Argentina 10 times. They have won none of those matches.

The Netherlands are starting to gain a reputation as flat-track bullies and a defeat on Thursday would do little to dispel that notion.

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Having said that, we do not envisage a totally one-sided encounter at De Kuip. The Dutch scored 13 goals in the group phase and they are certainly capable of giving Spain something to think about on home soil.

But la Roja are probably the strongest national team on the planet right now and they have both the quality and the personality to win in the Netherlands this week.

Choose a Spain win at 6/4 with BetMGM

Over 2.5 goals

Germany were the highest scorers in the group stage of the Nations League, but no one else found the back of the net more often than this pair.

The Netherlands carry much more of a threat in the final third under Koeman than they did previously, although there are still question marks over their defensive structure despite the presence of Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Dutch backline.

Spain have traded some of their trademark control under De la Fuente for greater potency in attack. With Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal out wide, Spain now have the option of going more direct.

La Roja are tough to break down, though, as evidenced by the fact they had the joint-best defensive record in the group phase.

On this occasion, though, we reckon attacks will get the better of defences.

Back over 2.5 goals at evens with bet365

Lamine Yamal to score any time

Yamal was one of Spain’s standout performers on their way to European glory last summer. He might now be on the verge of making Barcelona kings of the continent – and all before his 18th birthday.

Yamal is an incredible talent and the only thing you worry about with regards to the Barca academy product is the potential for burnout later in his career.

The problem is, Yamal is so essential for both club and country that neither Hansi Flick nor De la Fuente is prepared to rest him too often.

As such, we are likely to see the 17-year-old in the starting XI in Rotterdam on Thursday evening.

The Netherlands would not be the first team to struggle to handle Yamal this season.

Tip Lamine Yamal to score any time at 13/5 with Betfred

How to watch Netherlands vs Spain

Location: De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands..
Date and time: Thursday 20th March, 7.45pm.
How to watch: TBC.

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Netherlands vs Spain predictions, odds and betting tips

Netherlands vs Spain best bets

Netherlands vs Spain odds

Netherlands vs Spain predictions