Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Spain
Match Time & Date:
23/03/2025
20:45
Prediction: 3-1
Netherlands
All eyes will be on Estadio de Mestalla when Spain and Netherlands face each other in an eagerly-awaited UEFA Nations League game. La Furia Roja showed character in the first leg, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring the equalizer in the stoppage time. As a result, the Arsenal midfielder should be recalled to the starting XI, while Villarreal forward Ayoze Perez misses out through suspension.
The Oranje, on the other hand, struggled defensively in the 2-2 draw with Spain and they face yet another uphill task in Valencia. Ajax defender Jorrel Hato is banned for the second leg, while Leipzig ace Xavi Simmons is pushing for a recall to the starting XI. As La Roja are a real force to be reckoned with at home, we do not believe that Ronald Koeman’s men are capable of claiming a major scalp in the Nations League quarter-finals. A man to keep an eye on in the home team will be pacey Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal.
Highlighted Player (Nathan Ake):
Ake is a professional footballer who plays for the Dutch National Team and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The versatile defender who was born on the 18th of February, 1995, started his youth career in 2003 with local club ADO Den Haag. He then moved to Feyenoord in 2007 before joining Chelsea's youth academy four years later.
Ake made his first professional appearance at the age of 17, playing for the Blues in a 0-1 away victory against Norwich on the 26th of December, 2012. Barring a few starts and substitute appearances, Ake spent his next few years at Chelsea mostly in the reserves before being sent out on a one month loan to Reading in 2015. Upon his return, he immediately joined Watford on a season-long loan where his displays earned him the Watford's young player of the season award. Another successful loan spell at Bournemouth succeeded his time at Watford before Chelsea recalled him in January 2017.
At the start of the 17/18 season, the 24-year-old rejoined his current club Bournemouth permanently on a five-year contract worth 20 million pounds. On the International stage, Ake has represented the Netherlands at every youth level and has even captained the under-17 and under-19 sides. He made his first senior appearance on the 31st of May, 2017, featuring in Hollands 2-1 friendly win over Morocco.
Highlighted Team (Spain):
Historically, Spain have been regarded as one of top sides on international stage, but they often struggled to live up to the billing. After reaching the semi-finals at the 1950 World Cup, La Furia Roja won the European Championship trophy on home soil in 1964, but little did they know that it would remain their only trophy for another 44 years.
Following some disappointing showings, Spain finally returned to the biggest stage under Vicente Del Bosque, winning three straight trophies between 2008 and 2012, before crashing out in the group stage at the 2014 World Cup. La Furia Roja enjoyed plenty of success with their tiki-taka style of play, originally designed by Barcelona, with Vicente Del Bosque’s side packed with technically skilled players such as Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.
Strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa also had a major role to play in those successes, but when it comes to their famous predecessors, the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Michel, Emilio Butrageno, Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Morientes and Fernando Hierro should not be forgotten.
Belgium
Ukraine
France
Croatia 
Germany 
Italy
Ireland 
Bulgaria
Portugal 
Denmark 
