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Both sides’ styles point heavily toward a low-scoring encounter. Luxembourg under Jeff Strasser are in transition, and while they may look to keep the ball, their attack struggles for penetration. In their last five matches, they’ve averaged fewer than 1 goal per game. Even at home, they often rely on moments of individual brilliance from Rodrigues rather than sustained attacking pressure. Northern Ireland are built on discipline and containment. Their approach is pragmatic: they limit space, frustrate the opposition, and aim to take their chances when they arise. In their last four games, three finished with under 2.5 goals (1-0 vs Iceland, 1-1 vs Switzerland, 1-2 vs Denmark). They don’t usually blow teams away ??" instead, they edge out narrow wins.

The Netherlands enter this clash with momentum, confidence, and history on their side. Ronald Koeman’s squad is unbeaten in qualifying, boasting back-to-back clean sheets and an emphatic 8??"0 win against Malta. Their style of play??"fluid, high-possession football with quick transitions??"consistently puts opponents under pressure. With leaders like Virgil van Dijk marshalling the defense and Frenkie de Jong and Xavi Simons dictating the midfield, the Dutch are extremely difficult to disrupt. Up front, Memphis Depay is in lethal form, equaling Robin van Persie’s all-time scoring record for the Oranje and looking to surpass it in front of a home crowd at De Kuip. Poland, meanwhile, are still in a transitional phase under new coach Jan Urban, and although Robert Lewandowski’s return boosts morale, the team has struggled with consistency and recently dropped points against Finland.

This fixture has all the makings of a high-scoring affair. The Netherlands have been ruthless in front of goal??"scoring 10 goals in just two qualifiers??"while creating chances at will through Depay, Simons, and Cody Gakpo. In fact, in four of the last five meetings between these two sides, the Dutch have scored at least two goals, showing a consistent attacking edge against Poland. Poland, while underdogs, aren’t toothless. With Lewandowski leading the line and Zieli?ski supplying creativity, they can certainly find the net, especially on the counter against an attack-minded Dutch side. Their 1-1 draw against France showed they are capable of stepping up against bigger nations. However, Poland’s defense has looked shaky, conceding in their last three matches, and coming up against one of Europe’s most prolific forward lines, it’s difficult to see them keeping a clean sheet.

Julian Nagelsmann has had time to imprint his philosophy??"high pressing, fluid movement in midfield, and controlled possession. Against teams like Slovakia, who sit deep and counter, this structure works to Germany’s advantage: they can suffocate opponents with the ball, forcing turnovers in dangerous areas, and recycle attacks until chances come. Slovakia have proven they can frustrate teams (e.g., Belgium), but historically, they struggle to maintain that level across multiple matches. Germany, on the other hand, are seasoned in knockout-level atmospheres. The 5-1 demolition of Scotland and 2-0 win over Hungary at the Euros showcased how ruthless they can be once momentum swings in their favor.

Despite their struggles, CAR have individual quality. Geoffrey Kondogbia brings midfield stability, while Goduine Koyalipou and new additions like Chris Mbai-Assem can provide an attacking spark. Even in their defeats, they’ve shown the ability to create chances on the counter, especially against teams that dominate possession. In their last match against Morocco (2-3 loss), Madagascar conceded three goals despite being well organized. Against Ghana, they also shipped three. This shows they can be exposed by quick breaks and clinical finishing. With Madagascar chasing a playoff spot and CAR needing points to stay alive, neither side can afford to sit back. That usually opens up spaces and leads to goals.

Wales under Bellamy are far more attacking than in past years. Their last five matches have produced 20 goals combined (4 wins, 1 loss). They’ve scored 2+ in 4 of those 5 games, including 3 against Liechtenstein and 3 against Kazakhstan already. Kazakhstan must win to stay alive in qualification. Sitting back the whole game won’t help??"they’ll need to push forward at times, which opens space for Wales’ wingers to counter at speed. If Wales score early, Kazakhstan will have no choice but to open up, leading to a stretched game.