Euro 2024 – Group D Preview

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Group D Overview

Group D: France, Netherlands, Austria, Play-off winner A.

Group D Current FIFA Rankings

France are the team to beat in Group D. The world’s second ranked team are making their ninth straight European Championship finals will be wanting to make ammends for their disappointing exit in the round of 16 against Switzerland Euro 2020. Few national teams have delivered as much as France in recent championships. From 1998 onwards, the French have won two World Cups and finished runners-up twice and have a first and second place to their name in the Euros.

In the last major championship: the World Cup in Qatar 2022, France were runners up to a Lionel Messi inspired Argentina and if you take a look at the betting companies’ outright odds before Euro 2024 France are, not entirely surprising, among the favourites. “Les Blues” are justified favourites in the group ahead of the Netherlands and Austria.

The group’s fourth team will come from Estonia, Poland, Wales or Finland via the play-offs.

France and the Netherlands played in the same group in the European Championship qualifiers. That time it was France who finished top. Will history repeat itself in Germany or can the Dutch finsh above Didier Deschamps’ side?

Favourite: France

France will be the big favourites in Group D. They have consistently had great success in both the World Cup and European Championships recently and in Qatar they came very close to winning another World Cup. Since Didier Deschamps took over “Les Blues” in 2012, one success has followed another.

In the current squad, there are a lot of players of the highest class. Offensively, Kylian Mbappé is undoubtably one of the world’s best strikers. In addition to Mbappé, they boast stars such as Kinsley Coman, Antoine Griezmann and Théo Hernandez. The depth of the French squad is extremely impressive and Deschamps has plenty of choice as he looks to find a winning formula.

Netherlands

In a way, the Netherlands being drawn in the same group as France takes the pressure off Ronald Koeman´s side to a certain degree. The demands from the football-crazy fans are great and being drawn with the French will maybe temper expectations a little. The last time the Netherlands won a European Championship medal was in 2004 when the Netherlands fell to Portugal in the semi-finals, resulting in third place along with the Czech Republic.

In Euro 2020, after a flawless performance in the group, there was a surprising loss against the Czech Republic in the round of 16. 

Whether this year’s Netherlands’ European Championship squad is equipped to do better remains to be soon.. They have quality players and it is down to Koeman to find the right balance.

The goalkeeping situation has been a little uncertain in recent times. In the EC qualifiers, there were three goalkeepers: Cillessen, Flekken and Verbrüggen at various points, with nobody really doing enough to lay claim to the gloves.

Austria

Austria are set for for their third straight Euros. With an interesting squad consisting of players like David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer and Marko Arnautovic, Austria could be a team to watch during the Euro 2024 in neighboring Germany. Their mix of experience and skill could well make them the dark horse of the tournament, ready to surprise even the most seasoned teams. They are not a side to be underestimated.

The road to the EC in Germany was via a second place in the group where Austria placed behind Belgium, but ahead of Sweden, Estonia and Azerbaijan. In total, there was only one loss in eight games. Their top scorer in the qualifiers was Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer with four.

Poland

Poland narrowly clinched one of the last European Championship spots after the penalty shootout against Wales in the playoff. Now they are making their fifth straight Euros. Tough opposition awaits in the form of France, the Netherlands and Austria, with Poland being the worst ranked team.

Poland’s football history has been marked by several outstanding players and successful periods. During the 1970s and 1980s, Poland were a significant force in international football, with highlights such as the 1972 Olympic gold and a third-place finish in the 1974 and 1982 World Cups. Some of the most prominent players include Grzegorz Lato, who won the Golden Boot for most goals in the 1974 World Cup , as well as Zbigniew Boniek and Kazimierz Deyna, both of whom were central figures during the same period.

In the last 10-15 years, it is above all one player who has stood out in the Polish national team, the superstar Robert Lewandowski. “Lewan” has received numerous individual awards such as FIFA player of the year, best player in the Bundesliga and the Gerd Müller Trophy.

Whether there will be a new Lewandowski remains to be seen, but if you look at promising footballers from Poland, there are a couple of interesting names where Roma’s Nicola Zalewski stands out.

Group D – Table

Latest table for Group D in Football EC:

Group D Odds

Latest Group D odds from bet365

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Odds correct at the time of writing. Odds are subject to change.

Game schedule and venues

Without jumping to conclusions, the June 21 match between France and the Netherlands looks to be the most interesting in Group D. It could be a match which goes a long way towards team will top the group.

Group D Summary

France impressed greatly in the European Championship qualifiers where they only droppedtwo points. In Group D Deschamps’ side are clear favourites. The Netherlands lookslightly stronger than Austria and should take second place. At the time of writing, the fourth team is not ready yet, but neither Poland, Wales, Finland nor Estonia are teams that would be expected qualify in front of France or the Netherlands.

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