It’s the final round of games from the 2023 UEFA Nations League, and we have a mouth-watering Sunday ahead. There won’t be too much football to speak of in the coming weeks as players and coaches enjoy a well-earned break before the Champions League qualifiers start later this summer.
The action begins at 14:00 GMT with the third-place playoff between the Netherlands and Italy. These are two huge names in international football and teams you’d expect to be winning this trophy, but the Dutch and Italians came up short, much to the dismay of their fans. Croatia and Spain play in the final from 19:45, and with both games scheduled to be shown live on television, an action-packed day awaits. Read our preview and predictions to ensure you’re ready to get involved.
In this article, we focus on the third-place game, with the final also covered on our site. The stats show the Netherlands and Italy have met 23 times in the past, with the Italians dominating on ten wins against the three of the Netherlands andten0 draws. The most recent game was played in the 2020 Nations League when Pellegrini and van de Beek goals ensured a 1-1 draw. There will be no sharing on Sunday as the bronze medal position must be confirmed, with extra time and penalties available.
Netherlands suffers shock defeat
The Netherlands is a team fast approaching its best form again, and fans hope that’s an indication that the glory days will return. A few near-misses have sparked optimism in the stand, with 2023 expected to be the year Oranje moved from contenders to champions. They planned for a successful campaign ahead of next year’s European Championships in Germany, where they’ll likely start as one of the favourites. But there’s much work to be done before booking flights.
Winning the Nations League would’ve been the perfect way to sign off for the season, but the Dutch defeated Croatia in the semi-finals. That game ended in a 4-2 win for an ambitious Croatian side that will now face Spain in the final. Goals from Malen and Lang matched Kramric and Pasalic strikes as the game ended locked at 2-2. Croatia scored two goals in extra time to win the game and progress. It was a dramatic evening that ended with Holland out of the final.
Bet hereWhat can we expect to see from the Dutch in this game? They have been improving lately, and fans will be confident of making it to Germany next season, but how much motivation will the players have for this third-place playoff? The danger is that many starters will already be on their summer holidays, at least mentally, which could force the backroom staff to shake things up with a few changes to the team that started against Croatia.
Italy edged out by Spain
Italy also started their semi-final against Spain, confident they’d make it through to the next round but fell at the final hurdle. The Italians missed the World Cup in Qatar late last year but are the European Champions, beating England on penalties in 2021. Defending their trophy in Germany next season will be high on their list of priorities. They have some crucial games on the horizon if they’re to make it that far, but the third-place Nations League playoff isn’t crucial to achieving that goal.
It has been an emotional rollercoaster for lovers of the game in Italy, with Serie A teams making it to major European finals and the national team pushing for greatness in the various tournaments. The Spanish won’t down tools and simply roll over for their opponents to get a win, but it may be a case of them having bigger fish to fry. Like the Dutch, expect Italy to make changes to the team that lost to Spain in the last four.
That was as good a Nations League semi-final as you’re likely to see, with Spain winning 2-1. The other game was decided in extra time after 120 minutes of play, but Red Fury needed just 90 to go through. That game finished in a 2-1 win for Spain with goals from Pino and Joselu enough to beat a penalty scored by Immobile with 11 minutes on the clock. Joselu’s winner was scored with 88 minutes on the clock as fans suffered late drama.
Netherlands v Italy prediction
If both teams are committed to winning a third-place finish, we will enjoy a thrilling encounter with plenty of goals and even more talking points. Some of the sport’s most famous players will be on show, but we’re not convinced this will hold their attention. It has been a long and enduring season for the top names in football, and they’ll be a few tired legs in the camps. With that in mind, this game could become a summer-friendly, and a draw may be the outcome. Let’s hope for goals.
Nations League odds
22bet members can make predictions and place bets on both Nations League games played on Sunday with over 100 markets to choose from. The Netherlands can be backed at 2.3 with Italy 2.936 and the draw 3.6.
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