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Joachim Low's side ran out as winners when these two sides met at Euro 2012 but Willie Duncan believes that backing first-half goals is the key to profit for punters on Wednesday

One of the most intense rivalries in international football will be renewed when Netherlands - now under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal - play host to Joachim Low’s Germany at Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday night.

The two sides met most recently at Euro 2012 when the Germans ran out as 2-1 victors and Low’s men are rated as 7/4 (2.75) favourites with William Hill to get the better of the Dutch again here.

Under Van Gaal, though, Netherlands have made a perfect start to qualifying for World Cup 2014, having won all four qualifying games thus far and, with confidence renewed, there is no doubt that the Dutch will fancy their chances.

Netherlands are rated as William Hill’s 11/8 (2.38) favourites to taste victory while the same firm go 13/5 (3.60) that the match ends in a draw.

Klass-Jan Huntelaar has been in sensational form for Schalke and, should the Dutch striker reproduce that form for his country, he will represent a potent threat to German hopes of a positive result on Wednesday, especially in the absence of Robin van Persie.

William Hill’s “headline offer” of 5/1 (6.0) for Huntelaar to score at any time in a home win looks to offer incredible appeal considering that the former AC Milan striker, now plying his trade in Germany’s Bundesliga, has netted 12 goals in just eight appearances for Schalke so far this term.

William Hill also offer 7/1 (8.0) that Germany’s in-form youngster Andre Schurrle, who has scored three goals in his last four matches for Bayer Leverkusen, strikes at any time in a win for the visitors.

With so much attacking talent on the field, and a lack of defensive stability in both sides, goals seem inevitable and it is no real surprise to see three or more goals chalked up as short at 6/10 (1.60) with William Hill while the same firm go just 1/2 (1.50) that both teams hit the net.

It may, therefore, be worth taking a chance and siding with the 6/4 (2.50) quote from William Hill for two or more goals to be scored by half time in what promises to be a pulsating contest while the same firm’s “headline offer” of 5/1 (6.0) for Huntelaar to net at any time in a Dutch victory should be taken as the value selection here.

BET

OF THE

DAY

BEST BET

VALUE BET

Over 1.5 first half goals at 6/4 (2.50) William Hill

Huntelaar to score at any time and Netherlands to win at 5/1 (6.0) with William Hill

Sign up with William Hill for a £25 free bet

Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter

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