France have a foot into UEFA Euro 2024 as a win or a draw against the Netherlands should take them into the big finals for next summer.
The Netherlands, who face France this week, have still much work to do before they can consider themselves a contender for next summer’s UEFA Euro 2024. The Oranje have not performed at their best heading into this pivotal fixture with France, but they do have one game in hand over their Group B rivals, which Ronald Koeman should use to his advantage when the time comes.
Since losing their Nations League semi-final to Croatia and the third-place game to Italy, the Oranje have won their next two qualifying fixtures. In the last international break, Koeman’s men secured comfortable victories over Greece and Italy.
Almost time for #NEDFRA! 🇳🇱🇫🇷
🦁 Bondscoach @RonaldKoeman en aanvoerder @VirgilvDijk blikken vooruit
🎥 Kijk live vanaf 14:00 uur ➥ https://t.co/RpWpyvWDdr#NothingLikeOranje pic.twitter.com/rWVYQnx1Ts— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) October 12, 2023
The win over Greece brought them level on points with them, and both teams won their next games with ease. Hence, it is a big challenge for the Netherlands to win that game in hand whenever it comes, as that may prove the difference between them and Greece in the final standings.
Didier Deschamps will be pleased with the outcome of their qualifying campaign so far. France have five wins out of five and sit with a six-point advantage at the top. Overall, it feels Les Bleus have one foot through the door. And all they need is another positive result or two to be certain of qualification.
During the last international break, France eased past Ireland and scored two goals in that game. After that, they suffered a late defeat in a friendly to Euro hosts Germany, with Leroy Sane’s strike making the difference.
Back in France, when the two teams met, Deschamps’s men thumped the Netherlands with a 4-0 scoreline, and the manager will hope for a repeat performance. With Les Bleus making the short trip to Holland, Koeman will look to use home advantage as a cursor to make his players perform better this time around.
Team News & Tactics
Netherlands
The Netherlands are missing a host of key players, with Frenkie de Jong and Cody Gakpo among some of the important stars absent from this round. Even in defence, Koeman continues to miss a host of top-rated names like Sven Botman, Matthijs de Ligt and Jurrien Timber.
Our boys at work. 💥#NothingLikeOranje #NEDFRA pic.twitter.com/UQ9CEl8I9P
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) October 11, 2023
Even with that many defenders missing, Ronald Koeman still has the luxury of choosing from a quality list of centre-backs, including uncapped Tottenham star Micky van de Ven. He might not start against France but certainly poses an option to come off the bench if the manager deems it necessary to relieve one of his three centre-backs.
Koeman will rely on experienced trio Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, and Nathan Ake to marshall the backline. In their reverse fixture with France, the Netherlands missed Denzel Dumfries through suspension. But the wing-back is available again and primed to start this clash.
In the attack, Steven Bergwijn, with eight goals in qualifying, remains their biggest attacking threat. Donyell Malen and Xavi Simons are also earmarked to start in the front three as the Netherlands look to get one over France this time around.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Noppert; De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Roon, Reijnders, Blind; Simons, Malen, Bergwijn
France
Unlike the Netherlands, Didier Deschamps does not have too many worries with his missing stars, as those absent already have suitable cover in the squad. William Saliba withdrew from these upcoming games with a toe injury despite playing on Sunday in Arsenal’s win over Manchester City.
13 winners in an 11-a-side?! 🤔
There are 2 cheats in this photo 😂 pic.twitter.com/IELEKDNphD
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) October 11, 2023
Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano are the other absentees within the squad, while everyone else is fresh to play a part against the Netherlands. In the latter’s absence, Deschamps could opt to use Lucas Hernandez in central defence alongside Ibrahima Konate, although Jean-Clair Todibo is also an option.
With that, Theo Hernandez could come into the lineup at left-back, while Benjamin Pavard seems best placed to start at right-back in the absence of Kounde. Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni are well-placed to form a double pivot in midfield. But Deschamps has plenty of other options, such as Eduardo Camavinga and Youssouf Fofana.
In the attack, Antoine Griezmann will keep his place in that No.10 position behind central striker Olivier Giroud. On the flanks, Deschamps will keep faith in star man Kylian Mbappe and his PSG teammate Ousmane Dembele.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Pavard, Konate, L.Hernandez, T.Hernandez; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
Key Stats
- France have been winning at both half-time and full-time in 6 of their last 7 matches against the Netherlands in all competitions.
- France have won six of their last seven matches against the Netherlands in all competitions.
- France remains flawless in qualifying after five wins in five games.
- The Netherlands and France have not drawn any of their last seven matches against each other.
- The Netherlands have won each of their last 4 qualification fixtures on home soil.
Player to Watch
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil Van Dijk pictured in Netherlands training ahead of their clash with France! pic.twitter.com/nBdMHT2EaN
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) October 12, 2023
When the Netherlands takes on France, it will see plenty of notable stars take the pitch, and chief among those is Mbappe and three other French attackers. However, the home side will rely on the experience and tact of their great defender, van Dijk, who may have to stay on his toes to protect his goal.
Van Dijk has had a good start to the season and will want to build on his Liverpool success onto the national side. However, games like these against France will come across as a character test for the experienced star, as he has a big point to prove and help the Oranje qualify for the big show next summer.
Prediction
Netherlands 1-2 France
France, still hurt from their 2022 FIFA World Cup Final heartbreak, will come into this fixture in a relentless run of form. They may have lost their most recent international game but remain flawless in these qualification fixtures.
While the Netherlands have a home advantage, they might lack in their overall quality on the pitch when compared to what France are carrying. Hence, Didier Deschamps’s men are clear favourites to take a major step towards qualifying and put Koeman’s men under severe pressure with a win.
