Netherlands U21 vs Germany U21 Predictions

• Netherlands U21 have not kept a clean sheet in their last five games – conceding exactly one goal on each occasion.
• At least two goals have been scored in the last 16 Netherlands U21 games and 13 of the last 15 Germany U21 matches.
• Both teams have scored in the last five Netherlands U21 contests and four of the last six Germany U21 games.

Semi-final foes look closely matched again

Netherlands U21 will bid to reach their first European Under-21 Championship final for 14 years when they take on rivals Germany in Thursday’s second semi-final.

The Dutch dumped favourites France out of the tournament on Monday with a stunning 2-1 win, capped by Myron Boadu’s injury-time winner.

The Jong Oranje had a clear gameplan from the start and withstood some intense pressure from the French to progress.

Familiar foes await in the form of Germany, who earned a 1-1 draw with Erwin van der Looi’s men back in March when the two sides met in the group stage.

That was a typical tournament encounter when not losing was arguably more important than going for the win and this semi-final could be just as fearful.

Germany’s revered penalty shoot-out prowess saw them overcome a dogged Denmark in their quarter-final after the match had finished 1-1 in 90 minutes and 2-2 AET.

Stefan Kuntz’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet in four of their last six now which, allied to the Netherlands U21s record of scoring and conceding, leads us to conclude both teams to score is the best way forward.

As a correct score play, the same 1-1 scoreline as March’s meeting could well be on the cards if the Dutch can’t replicate their quarter-final result.