UEFA Euro 2024: Is Netherlands vs France on TV? kick-off, team news, predictions & where to watch
21/06/2024 – UEFA European Championship – (Group Stage – Group D)
Venue: Leipzig Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm
Where to watch? BBC One, BBC iplayer, BBC Sport website
France vs. Netherlands: Euro 2024 Group D Showdown
France and the Netherlands face off in their second Group D match at Euro 2024 this evening. Both teams secured victories in their openers, but France’s win came with challenges. Didier Deschamps’ side narrowly defeated Austria, thanks to an own goal, and suffered a significant blow with Kylian Mbappe’s exit due to a broken nose.
Meanwhile, the Dutch displayed both brilliance and inefficiency in their win over Poland, needing a late goal from Wout Weghorst to seal the victory.
This matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter and could provide key insights into the potential success of both teams in the tournament.
Match preview
‘Netherlands eyeing top-two finish’
Poland’s initial hope for an upset against the Netherlands in their Group D opener didn’t waver despite the absence of star striker Robert Lewandowski. Adam Buksa filled the void, netting a brilliant header just 16 minutes into the match. However, Poland’s early lead was short-lived. Cody Gakpo’s deflected shot levelled the score 13 minutes later, and with only seven minutes left, Wout Weghorst secured a Dutch victory with a powerful low finish.
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman was relieved his tactical gamble paid off. He had debated positioning Memphis Depay behind Weghorst but ultimately replaced Depay with another Manchester United alumnus, who scored the decisive goal. This win pushed the Netherlands to the top of Group D, edging out France on goal difference.
The Netherlands, now eyeing a top-two finish, aim to continue their winning streak in their next match on Friday. A victory would mark their fourth consecutive win, following dominant 4-0 friendly wins over Canada and Iceland. Historically, the Dutch have lost only once in their last 17 major tournament games, excluding penalty shootouts, though they faced a surprising defeat to the Czech Republic at Euro 2020.
Despite a 2-1 friendly loss to Germany in March, the Netherlands remain formidable contenders for Euro 2024. However, they face a familiar challenge from France, who previously bested them in both qualifying matches—4-0 at home and 2-1 away.
‘France usually dominates the Dutch’
France’s tournament opener mirrored the Dutch experience, securing a 1-0 win over Austria courtesy of an own goal by Maximilian Wober. Kylian Mbappe’s missed one-on-one opportunity kept them from topping the group. Mbappe also endured a broken nose after a collision with Kevin Danso, though he returned to assist in Wober’s own goal.
With a win on Friday, France would also advance to the last 16, having shown defensive resilience with three consecutive clean sheets. Victory would mark the fourth time they’ve won their first two Euro matches in a single tournament, a feat they previously achieved in 1984, 2000, and 2016—years in which they reached the final.
Historically, France has dominated their recent encounters with the Netherlands, winning seven of their last eight matches. However, the Dutch have had success against France in the Euros, notably a 4-1 victory in the 2008 group stage. This rich history sets the stage for an exciting clash between two European football giants.
Team News
‘Dutch unscathed’
The Netherlands emerged from their hard-fought win over Poland unscathed, with no new injuries to report. Brian Brobbey, previously sidelined with a hamstring issue, is back in training, giving coach Ronald Koeman a fully fit squad to choose from.
A minor concern exists in midfield, as Joey Veerman faces a potential one-game suspension if he picks up another yellow card. However, Koeman is unlikely to let this affect his selection decisions for such a crucial match.
While Wout Weghorst’s late-game heroics against Poland have kept him in the running for a starting spot, Memphis Depay is expected to retain his place. Depay is close to breaking Robin van Persie’s record of 50 goals for the Dutch men’s team. Koeman has been tight-lipped about Weghorst’s chances, but local media suggest Donyell Malen and Jeremie Frimpong as potential starters.
‘French await Mbappe updates’
On the French side, fans are anxiously awaiting updates on Kylian Mbappe, who sustained a broken nose in a recent clash. Despite this, Mbappe has been seen training with a protective mask decorated with French colors and emblem. Although there’s a possibility he could feature later in the tournament, French media suggest he will miss Friday’s game.
To fill the void, coach Didier Deschamps is likely to rely on veteran striker Olivier Giroud, who, despite some groin pain, should be fit to play. Additionally, Eduardo Camavinga (ankle) and Aurelien Tchouameni (foot) are expected to be available, though N’Golo Kante is likely to keep his place after a stellar performance against Austria.
With both teams nearly at full strength, this clash promises to be a thrilling encounter in the race for Euro 2024 glory.
Where to watch?
The match is set for kick-off at 8pm BST on Friday 21 June at the Leipzig Stadium.
This match will be broadcast live on BBC One and streamed on the iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
Predicted line-ups
NED – Verbruggen, Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake, Wijnaldum, Veerman, Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo, Depay
FRA – Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T Hernandez, Kante, Rabiot, Dembele, Griezmann, Thuram, Giroud
Predictions
France will certainly be troubled by the speed of the Dutch attack but they also have the depth in their own attack to keep going forward, again and again. Eventually, they find a way. Netherlands 2-3 France. – (Independent)
As Mbappe’s lightning burst of pace was critical to France picking the Austrian lock, his potential absence robs Les Bleus of their X-factor for Friday’s tie of the titans, where defences could come out on top. The Netherlands may have been in free-scoring mode for most of the past year, but Deschamps’s defence are one of the toughest nuts to crack right now, and this blockbuster may very well end without the net bulging once. Netherlands 0-0 France – (Sportsmole)
France will be praying Mbappe can feature during their toughest group stage fixture, especially given he scored four times against the Dutch in qualifying. However, even without the Real Madrid star at their disposal, Deschamps’ side will be favourites for this one. A rock solid defence will fancy its chances up against a forward line that was not quite on the same page against Poland, even if Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo looked incredibly sharp as he got his name on the scoresheet. At the other end, France have a variety of weapons that can hurt the Oranje and should continue their winning start to Euro 2024. – France 2-0 Netherlands – (90MIN)
