Netherlands vs France Prediction: Expert Analysis and Match Preview
A thrilling European clash awaits as the Netherlands take on France in the second round of Group D at Leipzig Stadium on Friday evening. Both teams are vying for the top spot in the group after securing victories on the tournament’s first day.
Netherlands vs France: Teams’ Recent Performances
The Netherlands and France come into this match with solid performances. The Netherlands conceded seven goals in their 2-1 win over Poland, a match where Poland played without Lewandowski. Meanwhile, France have been in excellent form, winning three and drawing one of their last four matches in all competitions.
France’s Dominance in Recent Encounters
In the qualifiers for the 2024 European Championship, France demonstrated their superiority by scoring six goals in two wins against the Netherlands. Kylian Mbappe was a standout performer, scoring eight goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Netherlands’ Resilience
The Netherlands showed remarkable resilience by staging a comeback after conceding an early goal against Poland. In a display of determination reminiscent of their quarter-final match against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, Wout Weghorst scored a late equalizer for his team.
France’s Struggle Against Austria
France faced a tough challenge playing forward against Austria. An own goal by Austrian player Maximilian Wober, who deflected a cross from Kylian Mbappe into his own net, was crucial in securing the win for France.
Netherlands vs France: Line-ups and Team News
Netherlands’ Potential Line-up (4-3-3): Verbruggen – Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Ake – Schouten, Reijnders, Veerman – Simons, Depay, Gakpo
France’s Potential Line-up (4-3-3): Maignan – Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez – Griezmann, Kante, Rabiot – Dembele, Mbappe, Thuram
Key Players and Injuries
All eyes will be on Kylian Mbappe, who sustained a nose injury in the win over Austria. Recent reports indicate that he will not require surgery and is expected to play with a protective mask. Ronald Koeman may also make changes, with Donyell Malen, Wout Weghorst, and Jeremie Frimpong likely to start after their impactful performances off the bench against Poland.
Les Bleus’ Strength and Dutch Vulnerability
Despite their victory against Poland, the Netherlands showed vulnerability in defense, allowing Poland to take seven shots on goal. This is concerning for Ronald Koeman, especially since Poland was without their star striker, Robert Lewandowski. In contrast, France boasts one of Europe’s most potent attacking lines, spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe.
Netherlands vs France Betting Odds and Predictions
France is favored to win with odds of 2.25. The combination of their strong attack and the Netherlands’ defensive weaknesses suggests a French victory in Leipzig. Additionally, with odds of 2.50, betting on Kylian Mbappe to score his first goal of the European Championship against the Netherlands is an attractive option.
