Netherlands v Scotland betting tips: Clarke troops big underdogs
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Steve Clarke has the challenge of preparing Scotland for a major tournament for the first time in 23 years.
The Scots secured their place at Euro 2020 after beating Serbia on penalties, while the Netherlands are on the rise after missing Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
That makes it a tough assignment in the Algarve for the underdogs who are 11/2 to pick up a shock victory, but let’s take a look at some othe other markets in our Netherlands v Scotland betting tips.
Match Odds
Netherlands have come back strongly after failing to qualify for their last two major tournaments.
Ronald Koeman started the resurgence by guiding the Dutch to the 2019 Nations League final, where they lost to Portugal, and then Euro 2020 before leaving for Barcelona last August.
The Netherlands took time to gel under Frank de Boer, but have won four of their last five and are 4/9 for another win.
They beat Scotland 1-0 at Pittodrie four years ago courtesy of a Memphis Depay goal and, with another tight game expected, a repeat scoreline in Portugal is 7/1 and a victory and under 2.5 goals is evens.
Clarke’s side are unbeaten in their last three matches, drawing with Austria and Israel before hammering Faroe Islands.
But Scotland have failed to score in two of their previous three games on their travels while the Netherlands have kept two consecutive clean sheets, so we go both teams not to score at 21/20 or the Dutch to win to nil at 8/5.
Talking Tactics
The Dutch will have to make do without their talisman Virgil van Dijk as the Liverpool defender was not ready to return from injury at the Euros.
But they have the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Owen Wijndal and Nathan Ake to call upon in that position, while Georginio Wijnaldum and Frenkie de Jong form a strong midfield behind forward Depay.
Che Adams switched allegiance to Scotland before the tournament and now looks to be their main striker, with Australia-born Lyndon Dykes also impressing on the international scene.
Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney are on top of their game at full-back and Scott McTominay and John McGinn continued to enhance their reputations for Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively this season.
Goalscorer Odds
Former Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum was the top scorer for the Netherlands in qualifying for the Euros, registering eight, and is 5/2 to hit the net again.
Depay, 11/10 to score, netted six qualifying goals and was on target in a 7-0 rout of Gibraltar last time out.
Feyenoord forward Steven Berghuis can be backed at 6/1 to open the scoring after doing so in his country’s last two games, while Che Adams is the 7/1 favourite to get the ball rolling for Scotland or 5/5 to score any time.
Match Info
Where: Estadio Algarve
When: 19:45, Wednesday 2nd June
How to watch: Sky Sports
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
