Euros preview: Romania vs Netherlands, Austria vs Turkey
Romania vs Netherlands
Romania arrived in the last 16 thanks to a sparkling 3-0 win over Ukraine, in an opening match where pretty much everything went right for manager Edward Iordanescu.
The Romanians then lost 2-0 to Belgium and drew 1-1 with Slovakia in their final group game. The Netherlands have followed a similar trajectory; an opening 2-1 win against Poland, then a goalless draw against France and a 2-3 defeat to Austria.
The difference, we guess, is that France are one of the best sides in the competition. Even if they haven’t exactly sparkled so far.
Maybe the Netherlands’ footballing heritage is tilting us in their direction a tad unfairly. But still, this feels like a game that Ronald Koeman’s side should be able to emerge victorious from.
Historically, that’s certainly been the case; Romania have won just one of their 14 matches against the Dutch, losing 10.
The traders make Netherlands the clear favourites to win in Munich on Tuesday too. Rather than bank on that outcome, maybe it’s worth taking a punt on Cody Gakpo to find the net at 21/10. He scored against both Austria and Poland during the group stage, and seems to be the Netherlands’ likeliest source of goals.
Austria vs Turkey
Ralf Rangnick has had a fine tournament so far. His Austria side bounced back from a tight 1-0 loss to France in their opening game, beating Poland and the Netherlands to make to the last 16 – and finish top of their group, ahead of Didier Deschamps’ team.
Turkey won two of their three group games too, seeing off Georgia and the Czech Republic, though those wins came either side of a 3-0 defeat to Portugal.
When it comes to previous meetings between these two sides in tournaments, Turkey are unbeaten in their last five with Austria, winning four; in all five matches, the Turks kept a clean sheet.
Austria are much improved since Rangnick’s arrival, though. He might have failed to change the culture at Man Utd, but the bespectacled German is widely admired in his home nation, in part for pioneering the gegenpressing system.
Now he’s turned his attention to improving Austria, and so far it’s working out pretty well. His side are showing an energetic approach that’s reaping rewards; can they turn over the Turks next? They did beat this side 6-1 in a friendly back in March…
This round of 16 meeting in Leipzig could be a thrilling contest, then; Austria have scored six goals in their last two matches, whilst all of Turkey’s matches have featured three or more goals.
The Turks will be without their captain, Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu, suspended for this one. Rangnick’s team seem a good bet to knock Turkey out of this competition, and you could simply back them at evens to win. Or you could try Austria to win and over 2.5 goals in a double at 2/1.
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