Euro 2024: Netherlands vs France Preview, Prediction & Betting Picks

The French may have had a lot of success against the Dutch in qualifying, but Kylian Mbappé played a huge role in both of those victories and his absence will be sorely felt here. Additionally, those games came fairly early in Ronald Koeman's reign and fans of the Oranje would argue the team has been improving game by game. France still have a tonne of talent at their disposal and are watertight at the back so we still think they'll get something from this game, but they might have to settle for a draw. Netherlands 1-1 France.

The anticipation is building as the Netherlands and France prepare to face off in a crucial Group D encounter at Euro 2024. Both teams come into this match with victories under their belts, and with top spot in the group potentially on the line, this promises to be an enthralling contest.

• Date: 06/21/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00 (NY)
• Location: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig

The Netherlands have begun their Euro 2024 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a victory against Poland in their opening match. It was a hard-fought win, with the Dutch side demonstrating resilience and determination to overcome a spirited Polish team. Despite the challenges posed by their opponents, the Netherlands looked confident and deserved their victory.

However, their preparation for the tournament was far from ideal. An injury crisis in midfield has significantly affected the team, with key players such as Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners sidelined. The absence of these first-choice midfielders was a concern for manager Ronald Koeman, but the team has shown that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

In their opening match, the Dutch defence, led by Manchester City's Nathan Aké, was solid and well-organised. Aké's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he effectively marshalled the backline and provided a sense of stability. Additionally, Milan's Tijjani Reijnders delivered an impressive showing, further highlighting the depth of talent in the squad.

Despite their positive start, the Netherlands will be wary of repeating past mistakes. At Euro 2020, they looked every bit a contender in the group stages but were shocked by the Czech Republic in the round of 16, suffering a 2-0 defeat. Koeman and his team will be keen to avoid a similar fate this time around and will be focused on maintaining their momentum.

France, currently second in Group D, also began their Euro 2024 campaign with a victory, narrowly overcoming Austria. While their performance was not particularly scintillating, it was effective – a hallmark of this French side under Didier Deschamps. Known for their ability to get the job done by any means necessary, France will be looking to build on this result as they face the Netherlands.

Pre-tournament favourites for many, France have a lot to live up to. Their style of play is built on a formidable defensive structure and a lightning-quick counter-attacking threat. This tactical approach has served them well in recent years, and they will be relying on it once again to navigate the challenges of Euro 2024.

One significant boost for the French squad is the return of N'Golo Kanté. At 33, and currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, Kanté remains an influential figure. His presence in the midfield adds a level of tenacity and experience that is invaluable in high-stakes matches. Despite his age and change in club environment, Kanté has shown that he still possesses the qualities that made him a standout player during his time at Chelsea.

However, France have been dealt a major blow with the injury to their star man, Kylian Mbappé. The prolific forward broke his nose against Austria and it's been confirmed this week that he will miss the remainder of the group stages. This is a significant setback for Deschamps' side, as Mbappé's pace and goal-scoring ability are central to their attacking threat. Without him, France will need to find alternative ways to penetrate the Dutch defence.

These two sides were in the same qualifying group for this tournament and the games did not go well for the Dutch, with France winning both games by scorelines of 4-0 and 2-1.

The tactical battle between Ronald Koeman and Didier Deschamps will be a fascinating aspect of this encounter. Koeman's Netherlands side has shown a willingness to adapt and overcome adversity, while Deschamps' France is known for its pragmatic approach and ability to grind out results.

For the Netherlands, the key will be to exploit the spaces left by France's defence, especially in the absence of Mbappé, which may reduce the French counter-attacking threat. Players like Nathan Aké and Virgil van Dijk will be crucial in maintaining a solid defensive structure while also supporting the attack. The midfield, despite its injury woes, will need to step up and find ways to penetrate a resolute French defence, with the likes of Xavi Simons potentially playing a key role.

France, on the other hand, will likely stick to their tried-and-tested formula. Their defensive solidity, bolstered by the experience of players like Kanté, will be essential in keeping the Dutch at bay. In attack, the responsibility will fall on the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud to find the goals in Mbappé's absence. Deschamps may also look to utilise the pace and power of Marcus Thuram and the creativity of Ousmane Dembélé to unsettle the Dutch defence.

This match promises to be a closely contested affair, with both teams having the quality and tactical acumen to secure a victory. The Netherlands will be buoyed by their opening win and will aim to capitalise on France's injury woes. However, France's experience and defensive solidity make them a tough opponent to break down. With both sides aiming to top Group D, the stakes are high, and football fans can look forward to an exciting and hard-fought encounter.

Netherlands Team News

The expectation is that Ronald Koeman will opt for an unchanged XI from the side that started against Poland last time out, despite Wout Weghorst's heroics off the bench.

There is a chance that Tottenham's Micky van de Ven comes in to deal with the potent transition threat of the French, so be wary of that.

France Team News

With Kilian Mbappé now unavailable until the round of 16 stage, Didier Deschamps has some big decisions to make.

Historically, Deschamps likes to stick with what's familiar to him and given the size of this game that means a likely introduction for Olivier Giroud, with Marcus Thuram moving out wide. We could see Kingsley Coman in there, but given how little football he has played of late his fitness may not be up to the task.

Regardless, expect the XI to be broadly the same as the one that started against Austria, minus Mbappé.

The Dutch kicked off with a 2-1 win over Poland on Sunday in a performance they'll surely be pleased with. Ronald Koeman's men flew out of the blocks and forced Wojciech Szczęsny into a number of saves early on, but against the run of play Poland nicked a goal from a corner after just 16 minutes.

It didn't take the Dutch long to respond, with Cody Gakpo's deflected long-range effort finding its way into the back of the Poland net. As half-time drew closer, the Netherlands tested the Polish goal on more than one occasion but could not find a breakthrough.

The second half was much more back and forth, with Poland providing a clear threat to the Dutch goal. However, substitute Wout Weghorst netted a clever near-post finish in the 83rd minute to send the Dutch fans into delirium and secure what was a huge opening game victory.

After a slow start to qualifying, the Dutch picked up notably as Ronald Koeman's eased into the job and they'll now feel like they're starting to peak following Koeman's return to the Oranje dugout at the back end of 2022.

France beat Austria 1-0 thanks to an own goal following some clever wing play from Kylian Mbappé. After getting in behind their defence a couple of times in the very early portion of the game, France found life difficult against Austria in the first-half, struggling to play through such a well-drilled and coordinated unit.

A very smart piece of combination play saw Christoph Baumgartner sent through 1v1 with Mike Maignan midway through the second half, only for the French keeper to make a fine save. To France's sheer fortune and everyone else's bemusement, the referee did not see that Maignan made a save and awarded a goal kick to France, which minutes later resulted in the French taking the lead after Mbappé's cross was inadvertently guided in from the head of Maximilian Wöber.

France missed a few chances in the second half but overall they ended up playing a very even game with the Austrians, although Les Bleus defended very well and didn't concede many clear-cut chances.

The performance will hardly be of concern to France, this is how they operate. They've played this way for years under Didier Deschamps now and they're one of the most well-known entities in the entire tournament. Expect no surprises from them on Friday night.

This game will be aired live to fuboTV & ViX+