Netherlands are the slight favourites in the 2023 Nations League winner odds ahead of the semi-finals on June 14-15.
Spain and Italy are next best in the outright betting, with Croatia rated the outsiders after reaching this stage for the first time.
The Dutch are hosting the 2023 Nations League finals, with the semi-finals to be played in Rotterdam and Enschede before the final takes place in Rotterdam on June 18.
Here we take a closer look at the contenders to follow Portugal and France in lifting this trophy.
NETHERLANDS
Nations League winner odds: 2/1
The Dutch, who were runners-up in the inaugural staging of this tournament in 2019, topped the Group 4 table in impressive fashion, finishing six points clear of Belgium. Holland started their campaign with a 4-1 victory over the Red Devils in Brussels and signed off by beating the same side 1-0 in Amsterdam. Louis van Gaal’s team twice needed stoppage-time winners to edge out Wales and had to come from 2-0 down to draw with Poland on home turf, but enjoyed a smooth 2-0 success against the same outfit in Warsaw. Memphis Depay was their leading scorer with three goals. Since reaching the semi-finals, Van Gaal has retired and been replaced by Ronald Koeman. The former Everton boss will look to make the most of home advantage for the World Cup quarter-finalists, who face Croatia in the first semi-final.
SPAIN
Nations League winner odds: 9/4
La Roja left it late before snatching first place off Portugal in the closing round of fixtures, with Alvaro Morata’s 88th-minute strike the only goal of the game. Spain went into that match two points behind their hosts but leapfrogged the inaugural champions in dramatic fashion. They had earlier drawn 1-1 in Spain, when Morata was also on the scoresheet. Luis Enrique’s men took four points off Czech Republic, drawing 2-2 in Prague and prevailing 2-0 in Malaga. They shaded Switzerland 1-0 in Geneva but were beaten 2-1 in the return fixture in Zaragoza. In the 2021 finals, La Roja beat Italy 2-1 in the semis but then lost by the same scoreline against France. Like the Dutch, they have made a coaching change since their early World Cup exit and Luis de la Fuente has replaced Luis Enrique.
ITALY
Nations League winner odds: 11/4
The Euro 2020 champions gained some compensation for missing out on a trip to the Qatar 2022 World Cup by winning Group 3 in another thrilling finish. Italy had to get the better of surprise package Hungary in Budapest to advance and obliged 2-0 thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Federico Dimarco. Raspadori had previously netted the sole strike when England were shaded 1-0 at the San Siro. The Azzurri began their campaign by drawing 1-1 with Germany, then beat Hungary 2-1 on home turf before a goalless draw with England in Wolverhampton. Roberto Mancini was left reeling following a 5-2 drubbing by Germany in Monchengladbach but his side rallied bravely in September. Mancini at least gives Italy some stability but they are the underdogs to win the second semi-final against Spain.
CROATIA
Nations League winner odds: 15/4
With holders France flopping in Group 1, it was left to the Blazers and Denmark to do battle for top spot. Croatia had not looked likely winners when starting out with a 3-0 loss at home to Austria and then drawing 1-1 with Les Bleus in Split. However, they ended June back in contention after 1-0 wins in Denmark and France. September’s 2-1 triumph over the Danes in Zagreb put Zlatko Dalic’s men in pole position for the first time and they finished the job off by gaining revenge over Austria via a 3-1 victory in Vienna. Croatia often step up on the big occasions and will be out to defy the odds once again, just as they did at the World Cup where they finished third after beating Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals.
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