The Netherlands will begin their World Cup qualification campaign in Helsinki on Saturday. Their opponents are a Finland team with four points to their name after two qualifying fixtures.
The Dutch are strong favourites to win both the group and this match, but can Finland throw a spanner in the works and cause an upset on home turf?
Finland vs Netherlands best bets
Netherlands to win and both teams to score – 23/10 with BetVictor Over 2.5 goals – 7/10 with Ladbrokes Cody Gakpo to score any time – 7/5 with SBKFinland vs Netherlands odds
Find the latest Finland vs Netherlands betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.
Finland vs Netherlands predictions
The World Cup qualification campaign in Europe got under way in March, but the Netherlands were one of eight teams competing in the Nations League quarter-finals that month.
That means they have yet to get going on the path to 2026. The Netherlands will therefore take to the field on Saturday six points shy of the summit of the standings in Group G, with Poland having got out of the blocks quickly in the last international window.
That adds a little bit of pressure onto Ronald Koeman’s side, even though they remain clear favourites to finish top.
Only one team qualifies automatically from each European group, with the runner-up advancing to the play-offs. Needless to say, the Dutch would be disappointed with anything other than a first-place finish.
There have been some positive signs so far in Koeman’s second spell at the helm of his country.
Despite a stuttering start to the competition, the Netherlands reached the semi-finals of the European Championship last summer. They more than held their own against England, before losing to a last-gasp Ollie Watkins strike in extra time.
They then pushed Spain close in the quarter-finals of the Nations League, falling to defeat on penalties after a 5-5 draw on aggregate.
The Netherlands will not be among the leading contenders to lift the World Cup trophy next year, but they are certainly potential dark horses.
First they must get there. Their group is manageable but it could have been easier. Poland are a decent side and Finland can be a tough nut to crack. Lithuania and Malta are unlikely to cause the Dutch too many issues.
A victory here would set Koeman’s charges on their way ahead of an eminently winnable match against the Maltese on Tuesday. A defeat, however, would leave them with ground to make up even at this early stage of the process.
“Maybe it is easier to play football against Spain,” Koeman said this week. “Because no one expects anything from us then.
“Finland and Malta are different types of opponents. We will have more of the ball, and they try to stop us. We are obligated to finish first in this group, but we do not underestimate anyone and we need to bring the energy that we have shown in our last few matches.”
Finland vs Netherlands betting tips. 18+ GambleAware.org – Please play responsibly.Finland vs Netherlands betting tips
Finland and Netherlands face off in an important World Cup qualifier this weekend – who will triumph?
Netherlands to win and both teams to score
Finland have never qualified for a World Cup before and they will find it tough to make it to the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The best they can realistically hope for in Group G is second place, which is where they currently sit after a 1-0 victory over Malta and a 2-2 draw with Lithuania.
Even then, Finland will struggle to finish above a Poland team which regularly qualifies for major tournaments.
The Netherlands will almost certainly prove too strong for their hosts in Helsinki, but they have not been overly convincing defensively of late.
Finland have enough about them to find the back of the net on Saturday.
Choose the Netherlands to win and both teams to score at 23/10 with BetVictor
Over 2.5 goals
If a Finland player does get on the scoresheet, the Netherlands would need to strike at least twice to emerge triumphant.
Having put five goals past Spain in those two meetings in the Nations League, the Dutch are more than capable of doing that here.
Koeman’s team have been entertaining to watch for some time now, with goals usually on the cards when they take to the field.
Indeed, this bet would have paid out in three of the Netherlands’ last four matches across all competitions.
Tip over 2.5 goals at 7/10 with Ladbrokes
Cody Gakpo to score any time
The biggest issue facing the Netherlands at present is the lack of a top-class centre-forward. Even Koeman admitted as such in his pre-game press conference.
“We don’t have top strikers now,” he said with typical Dutch directness. “I don’t know what is coming through the ranks with the 15-16-year-olds, but it is clear that at the moment we do not have the classic striker of the past – players like (Patrick) Kluivert, (Klaas-Jan) Huntelaar and (Ruud) Van Nistelrooy.”
The Netherlands used Memphis Depay up top against Spain in March, with the attacking threat shared between the 31-year-old, Cody Gakpo, Justin Kluivert and Jeremie Frimpong.
Gakpo scored in the first leg and we like his chances of doing so against Finland as well.
Go for Cody Gakpo to score any time at 7/5 with SBK
How to watch Finland vs Netherlands
Location: Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland. Date and time: Saturday 7th June, 7.45pm. How to watch: TBC.About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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