Netherlands vs Poland Prediction & Betting Tips - UEFA Nations League

Prediction published on 01/09/2020, 18:01  by James | Modified on 01/09/2020 at 19:01 in UEFA Nations League Predictions

The Nations League returns this week and one of the bigger fixtures pits Holland against Poland in the Johan Cruijff Arena on Friday night. The Dutch finished as runners-up in last season's competition, losing 1-0 to Portugal in the final. Prior to that defeat, they enjoyed a positive campaign that included wins over France, Germany, and England. Ronald Koeman was in charge for that period of revitalisation but he recently left his post to take a job in club football with FC Barcelona. His Holland assistant, Dwight Lodeweges, will take charge of the side on an interim basis. Poland also competed in League A last season but finished bottom of a three-team group also featuring Portugal and Italy. The original punishment for finishing bottom of the group was relegation to League B but a revamp in the format has spared them that fate. They can now have a second try at avoiding bottom spot and it would help to be able to call upon the services of red-hot forward Robert Lewandowski. Famed for his goalscoring exploits, Lewandowski is coming off his best season yet, banging in a boundary-pushing 55 goals in 47 games. However, manager Jerzy Brzęczek has recognised that Lewandowski could benefit from a break and he wasn't selected for this squad. 

Holland and Poland have met 15 times on the international stage, the former dominating the fixture. They have won six of those games, drawing another six, and losing three. At home, they have lost none of their eight matches against Poland. The last time Poland beat Holland was 1979, nine meetings ago. More recently, Holland bounced back from their Nations League final defeat, winning five of their subsequent six games. Among those wins was a thumping Euro qualifying win against Germany. They have won ten of their last 13 home matches in normal time. Poland are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning four times. Away from home, they are unbeaten in eight of their last nine matches. However, few of those games were against a side of the calibre of Holland. Without Lewandowski, we only see a Poland defeat incoming. Back the home side to win without Koeman.