Netherlands vs Belarus: Preview and Prediction

Netherlands vs Belarus
European Qualifiers – 2018 World Cup
Date: Friday, 7th October 2016
Kick-off: 19:45 UK
Venue: Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam.

Netherlands and Belarus look for their first win of the 2018 World Cup Qualification campaign when they face-off at the Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam on Friday evening.

The Oranje are in the toughest group of the qualifiers with the likes of France and Sweden are fighting for the top two spots alongside them. The home fixtures could be crucial for the Netherlands in achieving an automatic ticket to the biggest showdown in Russia. Having achieved a 1-1 draw away from home against one of the strongest opponent in the group, they must be confident going forward, especially after a disappointing Euro qualification campaign.

Belarus achieved a strong draw against group favourites France and shown that they are no pushovers. However, their chances of getting anything out of this group depends on how consistent they can be for the rest of the campaign.

Netherlands vs Belarus: Head-to-Head Stats

Netherlands and Belarus had met 6 times in Qualification tournaments and the Oranje lead the head-to-head record with 4 wins against 2 losses. Each of those meetings was for the Euro qualifiers and this will be the first time these two teams are meeting in a World Cup qualification fixture.

Their last meeting in any format was during the Euro 2008 Qualifiers and Belarus had earned a priceless 2-1 win in their home leg before losing the away leg 3-0.

Netherlands hold a 100% win record at home in the three meetings against Belarus. They have also kept a clean-sheet in all of those three wins.

Netherlands vs Belarus: Prediction

Netherlands will be desperate for win and these are the kind of fixtures they must make full use of to stay in charge of a tough group that includes France and Sweden. The Oranje have lost just once in their last 6 matches with their lone defeat coming in a friendly against Greece on September, just a few days before the start of the qualification campaign. Also they have conceded in 11 of their last 12 matches in all competitions. Belarus are no pushovers and this could be a tough match. Netherlands must find some consistency in their performance if they are to come out with all three points from here.