UEFA Nations League Predictions > Jun 5th & 6th

[StevieDay1983]

It's the UEFA Nations League Semi-Finals coming up this week. Not necessarily the four teams you might have picked to reach this stage with the likes of France, Germany, Italy, and Wales all missing... OK, so maybe not that last one! 2016 European Championship winners Portugal take on Switzerland in the first game with Netherlands playing England in a mouth-watering second game. Let us know your tips for this game! 

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[StevieDay1983]

Portugal vs Switzerland

The first game from the UEFA Nations League Semi-Finals comes at us on Wednesday night in a 7:45pm kick-off at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto between Portugal and Switzerland. Two sides that you might think would miss out on reaching this stage have in fact made it to the final four at the expense of some bigger names.

Portugal appear to have figured out tournament football. The reigning 2016 European Championship winners always seem to just do enough to progress. The 2018 World Cup was a rare under performance but the dominant display in their Nations League group that included Italy and Poland was a return to form.

Switzerland continue to perform above their level. The country has a population of just 8.5 million people, making it the 100th most populated nation in the world, yet the national football team has qualified for the last four of the Nations League after navigating their way past a group that included Belgium and Iceland.

The form book makes for some interesting reading. Portugal have drawn their last four matches but remain undefeated since that 2nd Round defeat to Uruguay at the World Cup last summer. You only need to look at this Portuguese squad to see the array of talent they have with names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Goncalo Guedes, and William Carvalho.

Squad availability could be the issue for the Swiss here. Breel Embolo and Admir Mehmedi are both unable to play meaning the strikers that Switzerland have called up have only scored 28 goals between them. This means I'm going to back a low-scoring win for Portugal. The Portuguese have seen 6 of their last 8 matches have less than 2.5 goals scored. Switzerland are equally as defensively sound with 6 of their last 8 away games ending in less than 2.5 goals scored. A narrow Portugal win seems the most likely outcome.

Portugal to Win to Nil @ 2.70 with Paddy Power

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.86 with 888Sport

[betcatalog]

Serious and the Nations League group has been presented with Portugal and will qualify for the finals of this strange event, which is now host to Switzerland. Fernando Santos's team is struggling in Dragoo and in this light has the lead to get what he wants. There is plenty of talent on all lines, while starring Cristiano Ronaldo is normally on the mission. The national team of Switzerland is always worthwhile, but surely the outcome of the match depends on the attitudes of the Portuguese

PORTUGAL vs SWITZERLAND @@ PORTUGAL, odds 1.67

[artichoke]

Have to disagree about this game. Portugal was good in the first round of the nations league but not particularly convincing, especially considering they were playing against teams that were a class (or two) below the best of the first group - which include Switzerland. 

On the contrary, I have been impressed by Switzerland. They played an aggressive, complete football, and absolutely outperformed Belgium - for me one of the three best national teams in the world - after losing a very tight game by one goal. If Switzerland drew in the ECQ to Danemark by conceding 3 goals in the last 5 minutes, Portugal drew at the same time against Serbia and Ukrania. 

So i'm going to put a small stake on Switzerland DNB @ 2.9. Good luck to all

[StevieDay1983]

Netherlands vs England

The second UEFA Nations League Semi-Final takes place tomorrow night in a 7:45pm BST kick-off when Netherlands and England go face-to-face at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes. It's an exciting prospect seeing two of international football's most exciting sides play each other.

Netherlands are entering a new era of mouth-watering potential. The current squad managed by Ronald Koeman includes young starlets such as Matthijs De Ligt, Donny van de Beek, Frenkie De Jong, and Steven Bergwijn. Just 1 defeat in their last 6 matches shows they have grown from the side that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The fact that solitary loss was a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Germany shows the levels they are reaching.

England continue to impress under Gareth Southgate. The 2018 World Cup Semi-Finalists have still got doubters but the Three Lions are unbeaten in their last 7 matches having won their last 5 games including a stunning 3-2 win away to Spain in the Nations League group phase. Southgate's men also boast a wealth of hot prospects including Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho.

Both sides boast superb attacking options and this has the potential to be a show stopping game. There is a feeling that both of these nations could be competing for major tournaments for the next generation. This game could go a long way to finding out which nation will take that first step towards glory. I think the match-up to watch is Virgil Van Dijk versus Harry Kane. If England can work out how to reduce Van Dijk's effectiveness then there's a potential breach in the Dutch back-line. If Southgate lacks the tactical nous to pull it off then Netherlands could prevail. I think a score draw is the most likely scenario.

Draw @ 3.25 with Bet365

BTTS @ 1.80 with Betfair

[Bettingboots]

Iceland to beat Albania is my bet of the day at almost 8/11 on Betfair Standard">betfair. (2pm KO)

Iceland’s form may have fallen away from that amazing period they had leading up to the last Euros (beating Holland etc) and in the Euro finals in France where they were impressive, drawing with Portugal and famously knocking England out, but they’re still a decent outfit, especially at home. Albania are very poor, even a poor Scotland side hammered them 4-0 (in their own patch) and they also have discipline problems. 

I expect Iceland will be too strong here so this is my bet of the day.

Good luck with your bets.

[Bettingboots]

My apologies, I should have posted this in the Euro 2020 section, this Nations League thing is confusing ?

Still, a winner is a winner.

[StevieDay1983]

Switzerland vs England

The 3rd/4th Place Play-Off in the UEFA Nations League is up first tomorrow when Switzerland face England in a 2pm kick-off at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes. Both sides will be disappointed to have failed to reach the final but this is a chance to end this competition on a high.

Switzerland were outplayed by a commanding Portuguese side in their Semi-Final match. The Swiss have now lost 5 of their last 10 matches. Manager Vladimir Petkovic has openly said his team will need to be near to perfect to get a victory in this game. Based on their recent performances that's no surprising. Something has clearly gone wrong recently because Switzerland have only kept 2 clean sheets in their last 13 matches having previously kept 11 in their 14 games before that run.

England were heavily criticised for their pass out from the back style of play with John Stones coming under particular fire from certain sections of the fan base and pundits. Gareth Southgate is likely to make changes with Marcus Rashford, Ben Chilwell, and Jordan Henderson all almost certain to be ruled out.

In the head-to-head, England possess the far more dominant results against Switzerland. The English have won 17 of the previous 25 meetings between the two nations. Furthermore, England have faced Switzerland at a neutral venue on three occasions and never tasted defeat before. In fact, the last time they met at a neutral venue was when England won 3-0 at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal. A good omen for England.

I can see England pulling off a win here. Switzerland are on a downward spiral and you get the impression that Southgate will be keen to see his team bounce back from the Netherlands defeat immediately. This is still an England side packed with quality and they'll be disappointed if they don't seal a business-like win.

England to Win @ 2.12 with Unibet

England HT/FT @ 3.50 with Bet365

[betcatalog]

A very interesting match, between two very good and serious teams. Portugal has been steadily high in recent years, while the Netherlands is now showing up. I expect the two teams' strike lines to talk and find at least one goal

PORTUGAL vs NETHERLANDS @@ Both team to score, odds 1.80

[StevieDay1983]

Portugal vs Netherlands

The first edition of the UEFA Nations League draws to a close later today when the final takes place between Portugal and Netherlands in a 7:45pm kick-off at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto. It's fair to say this new competition has been a success but who will prevail as the inaugural winners?

Portugal were spear-headed by Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick in their 3-1 win against Switzerland. On home turf, it feels like this Portuguese side can go all the way. Their victory at Euro 2016 shows that Portugal are technically the side in Europe to beat right now and with home advantage the pressure will certainly be on them to deliver.

Netherlands did well to navigate past a talented young England side. English mistakes helped Netherlands along the way but their overall performance was probably worthy of the win. This will be their first final since they appeared in the 2010 World Cup Final where they lost out to that great Spanish side.

The head-to-head meetings show that Portugal have only lost 2 of their 13 encounters with Netherlands. However, it was the Dutch that actually came out on top with a 3-0 win in their most recent meeting back in March 2018. Perhaps more worryingly for the Oranje is that they have never beaten Portugal in Portugal.

I think this is Portugal's game to lose. Netherlands are undoubtedly an improving force under Ronald Koeman but they're still 2-3 years away from where they could be. Portugal have a fantastic blend of youth, experience, and a match winner in Ronaldo. A close and exciting game could be decided by the odd goal and I wouldn't be surprised if Ronaldo is the man that gets that goal.

Portugal to Win @ 2.40 with Betfred

Anytime Scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo @ 2.10 with Blacktype