UEFA Euro 2024: Group D Preview

France 🇫🇷 

What can one say about France right now? They are the gold standard of international football. Winning the World Cup in 2018 and making three finals in the last four tournaments they competed in. They became the first team since Brazil in 1998 to reach the World Cup Final consecutively, losing to Argentina on penalties in an all-time classic. In the Euros, France are two-time winners (1984, 2000) and lost the final at home in 2016. In Euro 2020, France suffered a shock exit. Losing to Switzerland on penalties in the Round of 16. They breezed through qualification, winning seven in eight games, and scoring 29 goals. Coach Didier Deschamps has been France's coach since 2012; and is the longest-serving manager at the tournament.  If he leads Les Bleu to success, he will become the second person after Berti Vogts to win the Euros as a player and coach. An incredible feat having won the World Cup as a player and coach. Deschamps has a wealth of riches to choose from, with notable players missing out. Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Christopher Nkunku, Khephren Thuram and Moussa Diaby have missed out. Outlining France’s depth. Mike Maignan is now France’s first-choice keeper following the retirement of Hugo Lloris while Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Ibrahima Konate are their options at center-half. Young PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is another emerging French talent, who is one to watch while N’golo Kante makes a surprise return after a two-year absence. Captain Kylian Mbappe leads the attack and will be hoping for a better Euros campaign, failing to score and missing the crucial penalty against Switzerland. Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud are the usual supporting acts with Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Munai and Bradley Barcola waiting in the wings. France is the highest-ranked nation in the tournament and are heavy favourites to lift the whole thing. Their squad looks well-balanced and the showings in past tournaments make them intimidating. A shock performance might be the only way France doesn’t win it like Switzerland but it’s rare that lightning strikes twice. 

Likely Starting XI:- Maignan - T. Hernandez, Upamecano, Konate, Kounde - Tchouameni, Rabiot - Mbappe, Griezmann, Dembele - Thuram (4-2-3-1)

Austria 🇦🇹 

This will be Austria’s third consecutive appearance in the Euros, having appeared once in the last 14 editions. Which was in 2008 as co-hosts. They made to the knockout stages for the first time in Euro 2020, losing to eventual winners Italy in the last 16 after extra time. Former Hoffenheim and Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick was appointed Austria coach since 2022, and has installed his high-pressing style of play. Which is familiar with the squad with various players playing in Germany or have played for Red Bull Salzburg. The biggest team of the country. They were very successful in qualifying; finishing second in the group. Just one point behind table toppers Belgium, and winning six from eight games. Their most famous player David Alaba will miss the tournament due to injury while Daniel Bachmann, Stefan Lainer and Xaver Schlager will also miss the tournament. Bayern Munich midfielder Konrad Laimer and Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer are the headlines, with Sabitzer coming off starting a Champions League Final. Austria’s all-time leading scorer Marko Arnautovic makes the squad but Michael Gregoritsch is preferred to start, having scored three goals in the qualifiers. A squad built in the vision of Rangnick, Austria have been on an upward trajectory, winning 14 from 23 games under the German. They will be a large presence from the Austrian faithful, as they will make the short journey to Germany. Where the source of goals will come from as they don’t have a main goal threat. Their first game is against the favourites France but they can get results against the Netherlands and Poland, potentially finishing second in the group. It’s high pressing football from the Burschen.

Likely Starting XI:- Pentz - Wober, Posch, Lienhart, Daniliuc - Laimer, Sabitzer, Seiwald - Baumgartner, Gregoritsch, Wimmer (4-3-3)

Netherlands 🇳🇱

Renowned for total football in the 1970s, the Netherlands only have one major title; winning the Euros in 1988 and reaching three World Cups but lost all. Since finishing third in the 2014 World Cup, Oranje have experienced a steep decline. Failing to qualify for the 2016 Euros and the 2018 World Cup and underwhelming in Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. Ronald Koeman returns to the national team dugout after two years away. His first stint was successful, reaching the final of the inaugural Nations League in 2019 but has struggled since returning; unable to dominate games that they should and being dominated by better opposition. They gained automatic qualification, finishing second in their group behind France. Some names have missed out in the final squad like Feyenoord's Mats Wieffer, Dortmund's Ian Maatsen and Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee. All had great individual campaigns. Koeman has a wealth of options in defence from captain Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij and Mikey van de Van. If Koeman decides to play with a back four or a back three, it will impact their full-back choices like Jeremie Frimpong, Denzel Dumfries and Lutsharel Geertruida. Frenkie de Jong is the lynchpin of the Dutch midfielder but he will miss the tournament due to injury. With Wieffer's omission and Marten de Roon out due to injury, Georginio Wijnaldum and Teun Koopmeiners seem to be the preferred starting options while Ryan Gravenberch, Xavi Simons and Tijjani Reijnders are advanced options in midfield. Memphis Depay headlines their attack, scoring 45 goals in 91 caps. In context, Wout Weghrost, Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen, Steven Bergwijn and Brian Brobbey together have scored just 33 goals. Not a vintage Netherlands from the past, it's unlikely the Netherlands will go on a deep run and being placed in a tough group, they cannot afford any margin of error. Otherwise, it will be a short stay for the Flying Dutchmen.

Likely Starting XI:- Verbruggen - Ake, Van Dijk, de Ligt - Blind, Koopmeiners, de Jong, Frimpong - Simons, Depay, Gakpo (3-4-3)

 

Poland 🇵🇱 

Since the turn of the century, Poland have missed four tournaments out of a possible 13. Thus, they regularly qualify for these tournaments. In the Euros, this is their fourth consecutive appearance, last failing to qualify for Euro 2004. In the tournament itself, their best showing was in Euro 2016. Making the quarterfinals for the first time ever. Losing to eventual winners Portugal on penalties. They were unspectacular at the 2022 World Cup, just making the latter stages but fell at the first hurdle to France. Their qualifying campaign for the Euros was a mess. They finished third in their group behind Albania and Czechia, plus suffering an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Moldova. Due to their showing in the UEFA Nations League, they made the playoffs. They battered Estonia in the semifinal before beating Wales on Penalties to qualify for the tournament. Michal Probierz was appointed Poland coach in September 2023 after Fernando Santos was fired. He has stabilized the Eagles, as they are unbeaten in eight matches. Preferring for more solidity with a three-man defence. Robert Lewandowski remains the face of Polish football, having scored 82 goals in 150 caps. The most for goals scored and appearances for the Polish national team. At 35, his powers are waning and this be his last appearance in the Euros. Wojciech Szczesny, Jan Bednarek, Bartosz Bereszynsk, Kamil Grosicki and Piotr Zielinski are the experienced players of the Poles, having 50 caps each. Unfortunately for Poland, they are in a tough group with the Netherlands, France and Austria. With one defeat in their last ten, Poland are in good form and can beat the Netherlands on their day. Three to four points could be enough for them to advance but their past showing doesn’t leave much encouragement. 

Likely Starting XI:- Szczesny - Kiwior, Bednarek, Dawidowicz - Zalewski, Grosicki, Zielinski, Szymanski, Bereszynski - Lewandowski, Swisrrski (3-5-2)