Odds to Win Group C in Euro 2020 Qualifying: Germany or Netherlands?

• Germany is heavily favored to win Group C in Euro 2020 qualifying 
• Germany have qualified for every European Championship since missing out on their very first tournament in 1968
• Northern Ireland could make life difficult for Germany

European footballing giants Germany and Netherlands have a fractious relationship dating back to the mid-1970’s when the West Germans (as they were then known) narrowly beat the Dutch in the World Cup Final. Since then, meetings between the two are rarely without incident and they clash again in Group C of the 2020 European Championship qualifiers.

Euro 2020 Qualifying Group C Winner Odds

Odds taken on 03/19/19.

The Germans lead the way in the odds to win the group at -190 with good reason, as they have a reputation for always finding a way to qualify for the big tournaments. They have qualified for every single World Cup they have entered going back to 1938, and every European Championship since missing out on their very first tournament back in 1968.

The Unlucky Losers

The Dutch, while having a more modest record in both competitions, do hold the record for playing the most World Cup finals without ever actually winning the tournament. They finished runner-up in 1974, 1978, and 2010, losing to West Germany, Argentina, and Spain respectively, but have experienced victory in the European Championships, which they won in 1988.

Johan Cruyff enjoys a half-time cigarette during the final of World Cup 1974. pic.twitter.com/2b1AjoBS0F

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) April 25, 2017

When it comes to head-to-heads between the two nations, unsurprisingly it’s the Germans who lead the way with 15 wins, but the Dutch are not far behind with 11. Tellingly, as if to emphasize how well matched they are, they have drawn on 16 occasions.

Netherlands 3, Germany 0

In his team-record 168th match as Germany's coach, Joachim Löw presided over Germany's largest-ever defeat to the Netherlands.

Germany has also lost 5 matches in a calendar year for the first time since 1985 (as West Germany). pic.twitter.com/kkk67pzaia

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 13, 2018

The Dutch Masters in the Nations League

Equally interesting is that the two clashed in the recent, new UEFA Nations League, and it was the Dutch who triumphed, winning 3-0 in Amsterdam before earning an impressive 2-2 in Gelsenkirchen to knock the Germans out of the competition. As a result, the Netherlands qualified for this summer’s finals, where they meet England in the semi-finals.

While history and reputation favors the Germans, there is something refreshing and exciting about this young Dutch side.

So, while history and reputation favors the Germans, there is something refreshing and exciting about this young Dutch side, and let’s not forget it is a side that is bolstered by some talented Ajax youngsters, who have taken their club side through to the last eight of the UEFA Champion s League.

So, if we’re talking value, we’d go with the Netherlands’ +145 over Germany’s -190 every day of the week.

#hashtag4 Highlight: Real Madrid 1 Ajax 4 pic.twitter.com/fsIEbBDhzk

— Official_footballmeal (@OFootballmeal) March 10, 2019

Luck of the Irish?

If you think we have focused on the big two in Group C, then it’s with good reason. Only Northern Ireland look to have even an outside chance of sneaking into the top two, with Belarus (+15000) and Estonia (+25000) both at very long odds for a reason.

The Ulstermen can’t, however, be completely ignored and few will forget the fine run they had in the finals of the 2016 tournament in France, where this tiny nation heroically made it through the group stages and only narrowly lost to semi-finalists Wales in the last 16.

#WAL 1
⚽️ McAuley (OG)#NIR 0
Wales edge Northern Ireland in a tight British clash! #EURO2016 #WALNIR pic.twitter.com/2ogsLaJPA4

— Transfer News Central (@TransferNewsCen) June 25, 2016

Fortress Belfast

Manager Michael O’Neill has performed a minor miracle with a squad predominantly made up of players from the English lower leagues and will ensure they enter these qualifiers minus any form of inferiority complex. Northern Ireland has a proud record at Windsor Park, Belfast, and both the Dutch and the Germans will know they’ve been in a game when they go there, but their problem will be picking up enough points away from home.

So, while we expect Northern Ireland to make life tough for the two big guns, we expect them both to qualify.

Pick: Netherlands (+145) 

Our Euro 2020 Qualifying Coverage:

• Croatia Listed as Odds-On Favorite to Win Group E in Euro 2020 Qualifying
• Belgium Heavily Favored to Win Group I in Euro 2020 Qualifying