There is very little good to say about the squad of Finland, or their rather new coach Javob Friis. Huge class difference today! More:
The Netherlands strengthened their position at the top of the group by defeating Malta 4–0 away on Thursday. The performance matched the pre-game expectations that heavily favored the Dutch as massive favorites, and Ronald Koeman’s coaching staff left nothing to chance, fielding nearly their best possible starting lineup.
Finland, meanwhile, earned a critical 2–1 home victory over Lithuania — a result vital for the credibility of Jacob Friis’s coaching project. The overall performance was mixed. In the first half, Finland struggled significantly to control the flow of the game, and their passivity eventually allowed the visitors to score the opening goal. However, the comeback from a losing position to victory in the second half lifted the quality of Finland’s performance closer to what was expected from the pre-match favorite.
The difference in quality clearly favors the Netherlands, and unfortunately, Finland’s recent performances provide little indication that they could bridge that gap in any area of play. The home crowd’s support further reinforces the hosts’ status as strong favorites. I estimate the probability of a home win at more than 90 percent. The expected total number of goals in the match is slightly above 3.5
Only a miracle could save Finland, but as this is football, miracles do happen so keep your stakes moderate as Holland has no need to win big, just to win.
