UEFA Euro 2020: Czech Republic vs Netherlands Preview
The Netherlands’ participation in Euro 2020 marks their return to a major tournament for the first time since the World Cup in 2014 and their presence in the competition has been felt on the pitch – as they helped themselves to nine points from their their three group games – and off the pitch, with their famous orange colour displayed across the Johan Cruijff Arena, illuminating our screens and reminding us what it felt like to have the Dutch at a major tournament.
Czech Republic are making their seventh consecutive appearance at the European Championships but will be looking to progress to the quarter finals for the first time since 2012. Jaroslav Silhavy’s side has already bettered their performance at the last edition of the tournament but would not want to rest on their laurels as they dream of getting their hands on the title for the first time since 1976 when they won the trophy as Czechoslovakia.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Style of Play
Jaroslav Silhavy likes to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The team often plays a balanced style of football by trying to maintain compactness with Tomas Soucek and anyone of Alex Kral, Vladmir Darida or Tomas Holes in the double pivot protecting the defence. The Czechs are very aggressive when defending and they often aim to prevent opponents from passing into their box. They make good use of their double pivot by restricting central passage of play that their opponents may try, forcing them wide to make crosses. In Tomas Soucek, Tomas Kalas and Ondrej Celustka, they have players that are strong aerially.
In attack, Czech Republic play a very direct style. They tend to play a lot of long passes when they have possession with the intention to deliver as many balls as possible into the box. In Patrik Schick, they have a player who is capable of inventing something out of nothing, but they try as much as possible to create many chances as possible by forcing opponents into difficult situations with their long balls.
Recent form
Czech Republic qualified for the knockout phase of Euro 2020 as one of the best third placed teams from the group stage. The four points earned from the victory over Scotland in their opening game and a draw in the game that followed (vs Croatia) meant that a defeat to England in their last match did not hurt their chances of qualification. Before the commencement of the tournament, they lost one and won the other of their two warm up games, but only won a single match in their three competitive games before then.
Player to Watch
Patrik Schick carries the biggest threat for this Czech side. The Bayer Leverkusen man already has three goals in the tournament, including a spectacular shot from 49 yards vs Scotland, and he will be the one that Silhavy will be counting on to score the goals that will lead the team to victory.
Injury update: There are no major injury concerns for Czech Republic heading into this game, Vladmir Darida remains doubtful while Jan Boril will miss the game through suspension after picking up two yellow cards in his last two games.
NETHERLANDS
Style of Play
The Dutch still look like they are adapting to the new 3-5-2 system under Frank De Boer although the results show otherwise. As it is with their tradition, Netherlands go into every game with the aim of dominating possession but this year has been somewhat different. in the new system, they seem content with ceding some of the possession to their opponents, often relying on breaking out through the flanks and allowing their wingbacks and midfielders to create overloads in during both phases of the game.
Everything runs through Georginio Wijnaldum in midfield while Memphis Depay is allowed a free role up front, making him difficult to mark. In Denzel Dumfries and Patrick Van Aanholt, they have two players who offer endless running and are very dangerous when the team attacks.
Recent form
Holland’s form heading into Euro 2020 was decent, even though the performance at times left a lot to be admired. They drew the first and won the last of their pre-tournament friendly games and only recorded one loss in the five competitive games that they played before then. Since the tournament began, they have picked up wins in all of their matches and only conceded goals in the first game vs Ukraine.
Player to Watch
Georginio Wijnaldum, along with Denzel Dumfries have been the star men for Holland so far. The newly signed Paris Saint Germain player has been very key for the Dutch so far in the tournament and I expect his impact to continue. Every time he has played well for Holland, the performance of the team has been taken up a higher level.
Injury update: Striker, Luuk de Jong has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Head-To-Head
Both sides have faced each other eight times in competitive games since 2000 with the Czech winning in half of those meetings. Three of the matches have been in favour of the Netherlands while there has been just one draw.
PREDICTION
The Netherlands should win this one. It might not be an easy win but with what they’ve shown so far in the tournament, Frank De Boer’s men have the quality to come out tops against the Czech republic.
Netherlands 2-1 Czech republic
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