International
2025-06-12 - Finland U21 vs Netherlands U21
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Under 21 European Championship Group D
Thursday 12th June 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Preview
The senior teams are playing in the same 2026 World Cup Qualifying Group and it was Netherlands who came out on top when visiting Helsinki last week.
Both of those senior teams will be pushing to finish in the top two of that Qualifying Group and try to secure spots in North America next summer.
Much like this opening Group D game at the Under 21 European Championships, Netherlands are favourite to top that World Cup Qualifying Group and the U21 team looks capable of having a strong run in Slovakia. Netherlands U21 were a top Seed for the Group Stage draw and they will be very content with the three teams they have to face, although they will not want to underestimate any opponent.
The side won all ten Qualifiers to take their place in Slovakia and Netherlands scored 32 goals in those wins to move into the Finals. There is some making up to do for a poor 2023 tournament which saw Netherlands draw all three games played and eliminated in the Group Stage and it is important to open with a victory.
For the first time since 2009, Finland U21 will be playing in the tournament Finals and there is a lot of encouragement for the future of the senior team. Developing youngsters and being able to move them forward is always a challenge, but the successful Qualification campaign has given the Football Association a lot of hope for what is to come.
Finland placed 2nd in their Qualifying Group behind Romania U21 and they were then able to crush Norway U21 6-3 on aggregate in the Play Offs to earn one of the sixteen Finalist spots. Players will experience of being involved with the Finland senior team are going to be travelling to Slovakia and the Under 21 team were able to beat Slovenia U21 in their last friendly to snap a two game losing run.
This is another step up in terms of level of opponent and Netherlands have won 3 in a row to build some momentum- that run includes beating Italy U21 and Romania U21, two teams that will be playing in Slovakia in June. The confidence that has been earned through the Qualifying campaign and the obvious depth that Netherlands feel they can rely upon makes them a real contender to win the trophy and getting off to a strong start looks the most likely outcome.
Netherlands have dominated Finland at this level, but these two are meeting for the first time since 2017.
Prediction
After the failure to progress from the Group Stage two years ago, Netherlands U21 will arrive in Slovakia looking to show what the next squad of youngsters have learned from their predecessors.
A dominant Qualifying campaign and solid depth makes Netherlands favourites to progress from this Group in Slovakia and it is important to make a positive start against Finland U21.
The underdogs do have some players in the squad that have already played for the senior team and Finland have ended a sixteen year wait to return to the Finals. They struggled in 2009 and this is the most difficult opener they could have asked for and ultimately Netherlands may prove to have a bit too much for the Finnish team.
Finland have not really faced an opponent of the quality of Netherlands in recent months and that may also be a factor in coming up short against the top Seed in the section.
The Pick :
Finland U21 0-2 Netherlands U21
