Today Soccer Prediction Thursday 20th March 2025

Netherlands vs Spain, UEFA Nations League, Finals, De Kuip, 20:45

UEFA Nations League champions Spain are set to visit De Kuip in Rotterdam for the first leg of their quarter-final matchup against the Netherlands on Thursday evening. The victors of this two-legged tie will meet either Croatia or France in the semi-finals in June.

After being knocked out by England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 last summer, Netherlands accumulated nine points from six matches (W2 D3 L1) to finish second in League A Group 3 of the Nations League in the second half of last year.

Since the Nations League was formed in 2018, the Netherlands has come close to winning the tournament on two occasions, firstly finishing as runners-up to champions Portugal in 2019 before losing the third-placed playoff to Italy in 2023.

Koeman is tasked with tightening up a Dutch defence that kept just one clean sheet and conceded seven goals during the group stage – the most goals that they have shipped at this stage of the Nation League.

Since he was appointed head coach of Spain in December 2022, Luis de la Fuente has achieved a remarkable record of 23 wins, three draws, and only two losses. Notably, he has secured 14 victories and one draw in his last 15 international matches, including friendlies, following a narrow 1-0 friendly defeat at home to Colombia in March 2024.

La Roja are now looking to extend their winning run in the Nations League to six games, but they face a Netherlands outfit on Thursday whom they have not beaten in 90 minutes since February 1983 when they won a Euros qualifier 1-0 in Seville.

First legs can frequently be tentative encounters, and a hard-fought match between these two European powerhouses is likely on Thursday. While the Netherlands have performed well at home lately, we are predicting that Spain will secure a slim first-leg lead.

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