H2H: Northern Ireland vs. Netherlands – Prediction (EURO Qualification

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Northern Ireland (NIR) approach this on the back of two competitive defeats, both coming against the top two seeds of this European Championship qualification (ECQ) group. Both losses witnessed a margin of precisely two goals (GF 1, GA 5), and all goals within that sequence came in the second half. Scorer of the opening goal in the reverse H2H, NIR’s Josh Magennis has seen both of his domestic league goals in 2019/20 give his team a one-goal lead or deficit. Four of those five goals conceded by NIR arrived in the 80th minute or later. In turn, the hosts’ last three defeats across all competitions have each seen them concede 2+ second-half goals. Of possible relevance there, NIR’s last ECQ home match against a qualifying group’s top seed (Oct 2015) yielded a two-goal margin on the final score.

NIR have lost each of the last five competitive home matches to see them concede first. Four of the Netherlands’ last five competitive wins (including extra-time wins) have seen all of their regular-time goals on the day arrive in one half. Five of the Netherlands’ last seven competitive away matches (W4, D1, L2) have seen both teams score.

The Netherlands travel on the back of four consecutive ECQ wins (GF 13, GA 4). Despite eradicating an average handicap of -2.25 across those four victories, the Netherlands only won both halves on one occasion. Liverpool livewire Georginio Wijnaldum accounts for the Netherlands’ last three ECQ away goals, while being his nation’s last scorer in his last three ECQ away trips. Goals galore? By a quirk of fate, the Netherlands’ last two ECQ away wins have each seen the first two goals arrive via the same player on the day. Furthermore, home and away, four of the Netherlands’ last five ECQ victories have seen a Dutchman net a brace.