Some of the groups in 2020 European Championship qualification were drawn with only 5 teams, one of which was Group C. This group features Germany, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Estonia and Belarus. Both Germany and Netherlands were expected to qualify from this group but Northern Ireland were always going to pose a threat.
On the 16th of November, Northern Ireland meet Netherlands at Windsor Park, Belfast. The hosts needed to win this game to have any chance of qualifying for the finals whereas a win or draw for Netherlands would secure their place at the 2020 European Championship.
Northern Ireland come into this game having last played in a friendly match away to Czech Republic. Northern Ireland came away with a good 3-2 win having previously lost their last 2 qualifying matches In Group C. The defeats came at home against Germany and away to Netherlands. Northern Ireland took a 1-0 lead in the away match against Netherlands but could not hold on, conceding 3 goals inside the final 10 minutes of the game.
The defeats against Germany and Netherlands were the first suffered by Northern Ireland in this group having won each of their previous 4 games. All 4 victories came against the two weakest teams in the group and the challenge was always going to be in the matches against Germany and Netherlands.
Trends show Northern Ireland have won 3 of their last 4 home games, with the victories coming against Luxembourg, Belarus and Estonia. Northern Ireland have seen under 2.5 goals in 3 of those 4 matches.
Netherlands make the trip to Belfast knowing that wins in their final 2 games should be enough to see them top this group. The Dutch have won 5 of their 6 matches to date, with the wins coming over Belarus and Northern Ireland at home plus Germany, Belarus and Estonia away. Their biggest result was easily the win in Germany, a result which sees them above the Germans in the table.
Trends Show Netherlands have won each of their last 4 matches and lost only one of their last 6. They have also lost only one of their last 6 away matches if you include the defeat in the final other nations League against Portugal. If not, Netherlands have lost just one of their last 12 games on the road and have seen over 2.5 goals in each of the last 4, scoring 10 goals themselves in their last 3 away matches.
Team news and Northern Ireland will be looking toward Josh Magennis for goals in this game having already netted 3 in the group. Jonny Evans and Craig Cathcart are important defenders for the hosts.
Netherlands can call upon Memphis Depay, who is the top goal scorer in Group C plus Georginio Wijnaldum who has 5 goals to his name in qualifying. Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Aké give the Dutch plenty of cover in defence.
Northern Ireland are always a very organised team but this group is set to prove one step too far. With the manager leaving to join Stoke City, this is going to be a big night for the hosts in Belfast but expect Netherlands to come away with a win and both teams scoring.