EURO 2024: Netherlands vs France Live
Preview: Netherlands vs France
Netherlands vs France will come off on Friday at 7:00pm at the Red bull Arena as these two heavyweights seek a vital win to secure a spot in the knockout stage before round three. The Netherlands come into this game after a 2-1 win over Poland whiles France secured a 1-0 win over Austria in their EURO 2024 opener.
The Netherlands started their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Poland, but they had to fight back from a deficit. Substitute Wout Weghorst scored the winning goal with his first touch of the ball. This match will give manager Ronald Koeman a lot to consider, as the Oranje have been successful in their recent Euro finals group games and international matches. Koeman will have to decide if Weghorst should have a more significant role in the upcoming match against France.
After defeating Austria 1-0 on Monday, France’s victory in this match could potentially lead them to top the group, with their third consecutive clean sheet being a positive sign for Didier Deschamps’ team. However, their captain Kylian Mbappé suffered a broken nose in an aerial collision. Despite Mbappé still waiting for his first European Championship goal, France aims to continue their streak of not losing a Euro finals game in regular time since 2012 (7 wins, 5 draws). Historically, France has never beaten the Dutch in the Euros without requiring extra time and penalties (1 draw, 2 losses before penalties).
Head-to-head
The Dutch have struggled in their previous head-to-head encounters, winning only one out of the last eight matches, having lost two of those encounters in the tournament qualifiers. Their recent meeting with France ended in 2-1 loss in Amsterdam in October of 2023.
Prediction
The Netherlands secured an initial victory against Poland, but they showed weaknesses in defense. France boasts one of the most potent offensive lineups in Europe, spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe, and they also have a strong defense. As a result, we anticipate a narrow win for France on Friday evening.
