Romania vs Netherlands Prediction: Both teams will likely score in this game

At Fußball Arena München on Tuesday, Romania takes on the Netherlands in the UEFA European Championship Round of 16. In their final group stage match on June 26, Romania drew 1-1 with Slovakia to earn a point. They have one victory, four draws, and two losses in their seven games this season.

In their final group stage match of the competition, the Netherlands lost 3-2 to Austria in the Olympiastadion Berlin on June 25. It was their first loss of the year. Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo scored in the defeat. They have won four, drawn one, and lost two games in 2024. Both teams had four points at the end of their respective groups. In their group, Romania came in first, and the Netherlands came in third.

In their most recent encounter, the Netherlands prevailed 3-0 in a friendly match held at Arena Naţională in November 2017. In the 47th minute, Depay gave the Dutch team the lead. Luuk de Jong and Ryan Babel were also spot on. Marin has been a vital member of Romania's offensive line during Euro 2024 competition. With two goals, he leads the team. Gakpo, who has scored twice in this season's Euro 2024, has led the Netherlands.

Romania has played six games across all competitions, winning one, drawing three, and losing two. During that time, the Romanian team scored six goals and let up six, winning one of the six games. Their opponents scored four goals in the opening forty-five minutes, compared to their two goals in the first half. In their last six games, the Dutch team has won three, drawn one, and lost two. During that time, the Dutch team scored 13 goals and gave up six, scoring first in three of the six. While their opponents scored three goals before halftime, they scored three in the first half.

Few eyebrows should have been raised if someone had been informed prior to the competition that one of Romania or the Netherlands would win their groups while the other just made it through in third, but the starting lineup for the Allianz Arena was not what was anticipated.

For the first time in the men's European Championships history, all four teams in a section finished with the same amount of points. Romania, Ukraine, Belgium, and Slovakia all finished with four points after winning one, drawing one, and losing one match.

But Romania's superior goals scored tally saw the Tricolors emerge champions from the section, courtesy of their incredible three-goal victory against Ukraine and score tie with Slovakia on the final day, where Razvan Marin scored his second goal of the tournament from the penalty spot.

By doing this, Romania ended a 24-year ban from major event knockout stages. Before this, the team had only advanced past the group stage of a European Championship in 2000 and had failed to go past the first round in the 2008 and 2016 editions.

The Tricolors did not have to face a last-16 match that year; instead, they advanced directly to the quarterfinals before losing to Italy's dominance. However, history is solidly against them because they have also lost at this level in the World Cups of 1934, 1938, 1990, and 1998.

Romania, having won only one of their previous seven games across all events, is hardly in a good spot either, but their third-place finish indicates that the Tricolors' opponents have not performed up to par in Germany.

Ronald Koeman's team was left to lament Xavi Simons's controversially disallowed goal in their scoreless draw with France after depending on Wout Weghorst, essentially the big man up top, to complete their comeback against Poland. On June 25, they lost 3-2 to Austria.

Oranje trailed Ralf Rangnick's team twice and rallied to pull even with Das Team once more, but an 80th-minute goal from Marcel Sabitzer made sure Austria surprise won Group D, knocked France to second, and left Koeman's team to finish as the greatest bronze medalists.

The Dutch, on the other hand, are the only team remaining in their eight-nation path to have won the men's European Championship, so they should undoubtedly consider the benefits of not being in the same knockout section as Belgium, Spain, Germany, and Portugal in the knockout rounds. Italy currently finishing off their lockers.

In addition, Oranje had only lost one of their previous 13 matches against Romania—a 1-0 loss in a Euro 2008 qualifier—but they made up for those mistakes the following year, winning 2-0 in the finals—still their only major tournament match to date.

Respectfully, Romania's dismal loss to an otherwise lacklustre Belgium team demonstrated that even at their age, the big guys are still susceptible to weakness, and their initial victory over Ukraine was mostly due to two goalkeeping gaffes.

The Netherlands haven't yet demonstrated their full potential. We expect Romania to qualify.