A clash of Group D titans headlines Friday's Euro 2024 schedule. The Netherlands and France face off at the Leipzig Stadium, with a last-16 spot on the line.
Ronald Koeman's Netherlands mounted a comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Poland in their opener, while France edged past Austria in a tight contest. Their win was overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe's injury.
France claimed a double over the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying, including a comfortable 4-0 win at Stade de France in March 2023 and a 2-1 victory at Johan Cruijff Arena last October.
All in all, Les Bleus have been winning half-time and full-time in 7 of their last 8 meetings with the Netherlands in all competitions - since the Oranje thumped France 4-1 at Euro 2008.
Despite the absence of top scorer Robert Lewandowski, Poland's chances against the Netherlands initially looked promising. Lewandowski's replacement, Adam Buksa - the former New England Revolution forward, scored a superb header 16 minutes into the game. However, the Oranje equalized 13 minutes later with Cody Gakpo's deflected strike.
Seconds after he was introduced as a late second-half substitute, Wout Weghorst completed the comeback with a powerful low finish.
Koeman expressed relief that his bold tactical decisions paid off. He had considered playing Memphis Depay behind Weghorst but ultimately subbed Depay out for another former Manchester United player, whose winner propelled the Netherlands to the top of Group D.
Leading France on goal difference, the Netherlands can secure a top-two finish with a win on Friday, marking their fourth consecutive victory after decisive 4-0 friendly wins over Canada and Iceland. The only blemish on their recent record is a 2-1 friendly loss to Germany in March, highlighting their strong contention for Euro 2024 glory.
The Netherlands emerged from their hard-fought win over Poland without any new injury concerns. With Brian Brobbey back in training after recovering from a hamstring issue, Ronald Koeman should have an entire squad at his disposal.
The only minor concern for Koeman is in midfield, where Joey Veerman's yellow card on Sunday means another booking would result in a one-game suspension. However, Koeman will unlikely let this potential scenario influence his selection for such a crucial match.
Koeman hasn't ruled out the possibility of starting Wout Weghorst after his late-game heroics against Poland. Nonetheless, Memphis Depay, who is just five goals away from equaling Robin van Persie's record of 50 goals for the men's team, is expected to retain his starting spot.
Didier Deschamps' side secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over an in-form Austria in their tournament opener in Dusseldorf, courtesy of Maximilian Wober's own goal. France could have taken the group lead if not for Kylian Mbappe's missed one-on-one chance.
Mbappe also caused concern with a broken nose following a collision with Kevin Danso, although he managed to cause Wober's own goal early in the match. Another victory on Friday would also see France advance to the last 16, bolstered by a defense that has recorded three consecutive clean sheets.
Unlike the Netherlands camp, French fans have been anxiously awaiting updates on Kylian Mbappe. The player sustained a bloody nose and shirt after colliding with Austrian defender Kevin Danso on Monday night.
Mbappe, who scored a brace in each of France's victories over the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying, could play later in the tournament with a protective mask, given that French media reports indicate he will miss Friday's encounter.
Didier Deschamps will likely rely on record goal scorer Olivier Giroud to fill the void. Despite some groin pain, the 37-year-old is expected to be available for selection. If the veteran is not fully fit, Marchus Thuram could also lead the line for the World Cup finalists.
Elsewhere, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, both Real Madrid players, are anticipated to be fit for the match, although neither is likely to replace N'Golo Kante, who delivered a stellar midfield performance against Austria.
Spooky Express asks: Who will win Friday's mouthwatering Euro 2024 clash between the Netherlands and France?
Due to his incredible pace and goal-scoring ability, Mbappe's potential absence would deprive France of their X-factor for this heavyweight bout, where defenses could dominate.
While the Oranje have been prolific in front of goal over the past year, Deschamps' defensive setup has proven to be one of the toughest to break down. This highly anticipated match could end without either side finding the back of the net, or we might witness a low-scoring draw.
