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Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21: Betting tips, predictions, odds & match preview

Belgium U21 and Netherlands U21 get their 2023 UEFA U21 Championship campaign underway at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Georgia on Wednesday (5pm, UK time).

Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21: Betting tips

Odds correct at the time of writing. 18+ Only. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21: Predictions

Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21: Predictions

Bet Prediction Best odds
BTTS? Yes 3/4 with Bet365
Correct score Belgium U21 1-2 Netherlands U21 15/2 with Bet365
First Goalscorer Brian Brobbey 6/1 with Paddy Power

Belgium are making their fourth UEFA U21 Championship finals appearance and looking to progress from the group stage for only the second time. The Dutch, meanwhile, were champions in 2006 and as hosts in 2007, but have featured in the final tournament only twice since – although they reached the semi-finals on each occasion.

Belgium were the first of the 14 teams who came through qualifying to book their place at the finals, thanks to a 1-1 draw against Denmark in their penultimate fixture on 29 March 2022.

Loïs Openda was the team’s top scorer in qualifying with seven goals, putting him joint second in the overall rankings for the 2023 preliminaries. He scored at least once against all four Group I opponents and is now Belgium’s all-time top scorer at U21 level with 13 goals, one more than Kevin Vandenbergh (2003-05).

Erwin van de Looi’s side won eight of their ten qualifiers for the 2023 finals, drawing the other two, to finish three points clear of Switzerland in Group E. They scored 32 goals and conceded only three, Joshua Zirkzee finishing as their top scorer with seven, which put him joint second overall.

Co-hosts Georgia and Portugal are the other teams in Group A, with all six games to be played in Tbilisi at either the Meskhi Stadium or the Paichadze Stadium.

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Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21 match stats

Belgium are seeking a first competitive U21 win against neighbours the Netherlands. That being said, they’ve not played a competitive U21 fixture in 16 years but they did meet in a friendly in Leuven on 23 September 2022, with Brian Brobbey scoring both Netherlands goals in a 2-1 win. Half-time substitute Olivier Deman grabbed the home side’s consolation goal 18 minutes from time.

Belgium had won their previous meeting against the Netherlands – the sides’ first meeting in a decade – with a 4-1 away success on 22 March 2018. That was just their third victory overall against the Dutch and a first since October 1984, ending the Netherlands’ nine-match unbeaten run against Belgium (five wins and four draws).

This is the sides’ sixth European U21 Championship fixture, and a first since June 2007, when they shared a 2-2 Matchday 3 draw in Heerenveen. Kevin Mirallas and Sébastien Pocognoli scored for Belgium with Maceo Rigters and Royston Drenthe on target for the Netherlands as both sides reached the last four.

The Netherlands reached the 2000 finals at Belgium’s expense, drawing 2-2 in Heerenveen in the first leg of the play-off before a 2-0 away win in Mouscron.

The teams were also paired together in qualifying for the 1998 tournament, a 2-2 draw in Liège preceding a 5-2 Dutch win in The Hague that helped them finish first in Group 7 and qualify for the finals, with Belgium eliminated in third place.

Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21: Squawka Says

Scoreline prediction: Belgium U21 1-2 Netherlands U21

Belgium U21 vs Netherlands U21 head-to-head

23 September 2022 – Belgium U21 1-2 Netherlands U21 – International Friendly

22 March 2018 – Netherlands U21 1-4 Belgium U21 – International Friendly

16 June 2007 – Belgium U21 2-2 Netherlands U21 – UEFA U21 Championship

16 November 1999 – Belgium U21 0-2 Netherlands U21 – UEFA U21 Championship

12 November 1999 – Netherlands U21 2-2 Belgium U21 – UEFA U21 Championship

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