Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Volleyball Nations League match.
The Netherlands have endured a disappointing group stage and are already out of contention for the play-offs. For Slovenia, this fixture provides an excellent opportunity to consolidate their position in the top eight, and the favourites will be highly motivated going into the match.
Netherlands
The Netherlands have struggled throughout the tournament. They suffered heavy defeats to Cuba (1:3), Germany (1:3), Argentina (0:3), and Japan (0:3). Their only relatively encouraging results came in closely contested losses against Iran (2:3) and Ukraine (2:3), along with a solitary victory over fellow underperformers Turkey (3:1). In their last four meetings with Slovenia, the Netherlands have lost three times, including two defeats in straight sets.
Slovenia
Slovenia may not dominate every match, but they deal confidently with weaker opposition. The squad recorded routine wins over Turkey (3:0), the United States (3:1), Cuba (3:1), and Canada (3:1). Their only losses came against stronger opponents such as Japan, France, and Bulgaria. Against the Netherlands, Slovenia tend to start matches strongly, having taken the opening set in three of their last four encounters.
Netherlands vs Slovenia Prediction
The Netherlands are clearly the weaker side in terms of both form and overall level. Slovenia are not only the stronger team but also boast a positive recent record in head-to-head matchups. A comfortable win for Slovenia is expected, with a margin of at least 11 points.
