Netherlands vs. Wales Predictions: Expect a busy second half in Rotterdam

Tuesday sees the final round of Nations League fixtures take place until September, with 12 games and 24 teams in action.

Both England and Scotland, as well as neighbouring Ireland, have matches this evening, but it's home nations side Wales who are our focus here.

They face a stern test from table toppers Netherlands who remain unbeaten in their opening three competition games, including a 2-1 victory over the Dragons less than a week ago.

Injuries are mounting for Rob Page's side, with his side due to be without the injured Neco Williams, Danny Ward, Joe Morrell and Joe Allen in addition to Kieffer Moore and the suspended Rhys Norrington-Davies.

Due to the rapid-fire nature of the tournament's schedule, further changes are expected for both teams meaning that prop bets are being swerved.

We've looked to @LAHamalam to provide us a couple of best bets for the game and this is what he's come back with:

Starting out is a handicap bet in the favour of Rob Page's side, giving them a three-corner head start over Netherlands. Using a sample size of only matches from this calendar year, this bet would have landed in 4/6 of their matches, including two of their Nations League outings vs Belgium and tonight's opponents.

If we're to go further back throughout 2021 also, that's a further 15 matches to go by, with the handicap proving successful on eight of these occasions.

They aren't a team who rack up the corners, particularly in matches like this where they are the underdog, but Wales tend to do a good job of maintaining a compact defensive shape against stronger opposition, while springing a few surprises of their own on the counter attack.

When it comes to Netherlands, a +3 handicap in favour of their opponents in the five matches they've played in 2022 would have been a home run in 80% of these, including the two side's recent meeting.

With both teams experiencing tired legs and the away side's need for changes due to injury and suspension, expect Page's men to play a more extreme version of their football than usual which can help see this bet over the line once again.

As for our second shout, it's for the match's second half to see the most goals.

Netherlands have brought entertainment and goals in abundance to their Nations League campaign so far. They started out with a 4-1 mauling of Belgium, before narrowly snatching a win over Wales at the death, followed by a most recent 2-2 draw with Poland.

In these games there have been a total of 12 goals scored, with a whopping 83.3% of them coming in the second 45. When we include the two friendlies Louis van Gaal's team played earlier in the year, a further three of the four goals scored came after the break.

On the Wales side of this conversation, all eight of the goals from their three 2022 Nations League fixtures have been scored in the second half of matches.

There seems to be strong evidence suggesting that these two nations spend the first half somewhat reservedly before opening themselves up more as the game goes on, both to attack their opposition in search of an opener or further goal cushion, which then inadvertently leaves them exposed to conceding chances and goals later on.