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This is a genuinely big game to decide who will win the group and may head into what looks like a potentially ‘easier’ side of the draw as the Netherlands take on one of the pre-tournament favourites France in a heavyweight clash on Friday.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 21st June, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US EST – 3:00pm / US PST – 1:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – VIX
NETHERLANDS PREVIEW: SURPRISING CRUYFFIAN PRINCIPLES
Ronald Koeman is not necessarily a coach that plays in the ‘Dutch tradition’ with an emphasis on pressing and a slick passing style of football but that was not the case in their opener against Poland. After going behind early on to an Adam Buksa header from a set-piece, Oranje really did get into their stride and propelled themselves forward.
Slick interchanges involving the likes of Xavi Simons, Tijjani Reijnders, Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo, with support from Denzel Dumfries, saw them create plenty of chances but they did still require a massive deflection to equalise and then a bit of simplicity from Wout Weghorst to take all three points from Hamburg.
FRANCE PREVIEW: GRINDING IT OUT
France do not tend to start tournaments overly well. They needed to come from behind in 2022 against Australia, were held by Hungary in 2021 and needed late winners against Australia and Romania in 2018 and 2016 respectively. Another performance where the phrase ‘they got the job done’ was fitting was put in on Monday.
They defeated the so-called ‘dark horses’ of the tournament, Austria, by a goal to nil with that coming from the head of Austrian defender Max Wober after some good play and a good cross by Kylian Mbappe. France were generally in control, though, despite the odd scare and will look to grow into the tournament.
NETHERLANDS TEAM NEWS: SAME AGAIN FROM THE DUTCH
The Netherlands have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues with only Ajax forward Brian Brobbey remaining a doubt for this one. Ronald Koeman is expected to name the same eleven that played against Poland with Tijjani Reijnders a key aspect in turning it into a 4-3-3 without the ball and a 4-2-3-1 when they attack.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Veerman; Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo; Depay
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Brobbey (Injured)
FRANCE TEAM NEWS: DEALING WITHOUT MBAPPE
Kylian Mbappe, Les Bleus’ captain, suffered a broken nose late on in that opener against Austria and he will be a big miss for Didier Deschamps, especially after, as predicted, being their biggest spark in the final third. It is a toss up between Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani and the experienced LAFC-bound Olivier Giroud as to who will replace him.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kante, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Thuram; Giroud
UNAVAILABLE: Mbappe (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Tchouameni (Injured)
KEY STATS
NETHERLANDS VS FRANCE PREDICTION
This is an important game in determining the group winner because if the Netherlands topple France then there is a very good chance, thanks to the head-to-head rule, that they will win Group D and have a softer run through the knockout stages. France are having to deal without Kylian Mbappe so will likely be even more reactive and pragmatic than they usually are and the likelihood is that this is not necessarily overly thrilling for the neutral with a bit of a low-scoring encounter, rare for this tournament, a good chance.
NETHERLANDS VS FRANCE TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS