Euro 2020: Who is likely to qualify?

Group C: Netherlands, Germany, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Belarus

Led by Virgil Van Dijk, the Netherlands suddenly look resurgent

When it was announced that Germany would be in Pot 2 for the qualifying draw following their disastrous World Cup and Nations League campaigns, it was pretty clear that they would be the side that any team from Pot 1 would be looking to avoid. In the end though, the Netherlands can’t be too unhappy with this draw overall.

Ronald Koeman’s resurgent Oranje won their Nations League group by taking points off Germany – beating them at home and then picking up a draw away – and have seemingly shaken off the cobwebs after their failure to qualify for Euro 2016 and the World Cup this year.

Led by captain Virgil Van Dijk, young talents like Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt have combined with the resurgent Memphis Depay and Ryan Babel to create a dangerous looking side for any team to face.

The Germans have obviously been on a slide of sorts, but even they must be happy with this draw; even if they were to lose twice to the Netherlands, it’s hard to see Northern Ireland, Estonia or Belarus giving them any difficulties. A few years ago the Irish may have been a tricky side to face, but since their Euro 2016 adventure they’ve slipped badly, and lost all 4 of their Nations League fixtures, scoring just 2 goals along the way.

Belarus may yet be a surprising qualifier as they won their Nations League group, which gives them one of those all-important playoff spots, but I don’t expect them to have any success here – particularly against the Netherlands or Germany, who should be in a straight shootout for top spot with both qualifying regardless.

Prediction: Netherlands and Germany to qualify