The Netherlands kicked off their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Poland, with substitute Wout Weghorst sealing the win with his first touch. This performance has given manager Ronald Koeman much to ponder, particularly regarding Weghorst’s role in the squad. The Oranje’s recent form is impressive, boasting four consecutive Euro finals group stage wins and triumphs in seven of their last eight internationals.
Netherlands’ Predicament
However, Koeman faces a daunting challenge as his team prepares to face France, a side they have struggled against in recent years. The Dutch have only secured one win in their last eight encounters with Les Bleus, losing the remaining seven. Notably, two of these defeats occurred during the qualifiers for this tournament, underlining the strength of the French team.
France’s Standing
France, on the other hand, came into this match on the back of a solid 1-0 victory over Austria. A win here could propel them towards topping the group, bolstered by their strong defensive record, having kept three consecutive clean sheets. Despite these positives, they will miss captain Kylian Mbappé, who suffered a broken nose against Austria and remains without a European Championship goal.
Les Bleus has a remarkable record in Euro finals, unbeaten in regular time since 2012 (W7, D5). However, their history against the Dutch in Euros is less dominant, with no wins inside 90 minutes (D1, L2 before penalty shootouts). Antoine Griezmann, who scored early in France’s 4-0 demolition of the Netherlands in March 2023, will be a key player to watch, especially given his recent scoring pattern between the 25th and 55th minutes at the club level.
Players to Watch
- Cody Gakpo (Netherlands): Gakpo’s early goal against Poland continued his trend of scoring in major championship group matches. With three of his last six goals for club and country coming before the half-hour mark, he remains a significant threat early in the game.
- Antoine Griezmann (France): Griezmann’s knack for crucial goals, highlighted by his early strike against the Netherlands in their last meeting, makes him a player the Dutch defense will need to monitor closely.
Hot Streak
Each of the last five head-to-heads between these teams (France: W4, L1) featured goals in both halves, promising an exciting and action-packed encounter.
Prediction
Given its recent form and historical context, this match is set to be a close contest. However, France’s defensive solidity and the Dutch’s vulnerability in previous encounters tip the scales slightly in favor of Les Bleus. A narrow 2-1 victory for France seems like a likely outcome.
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