Netherlands vs France. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more
Netherlands will host France in the UEFA EURO 2024 7th qualification round of Group B match at the Johan Cruijff Arena. The fixture will take place on Saturday, October 14, beginning at 00:15 IST.
Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.
Netherlands News & Current Form:
Recall that Group B features five teams: France, Greece, Netherlands, Ireland and Gibraltar. All teams, except for the Netherlands, have played 5 games each. The Oranje scored 9 points in 4 games, losing a face-to-face match to the French in the spring with the score 0:4.
The intrigue was killed already by the 21st minute – after goals from Antoine Griezmann, Dayot Upamecano and Kylian Mbappe. The Paris Saint-Germain striker netted a double in the 88th minute, and in the fifth penalty minute Memphis Depay had a chance to improve his side’s fortunes, but the goalkeeper dragged down a penalty kick.
The Netherlands haven’t had a misfire since the blowout at the Stade de France. At home, they swatted Gibraltar, the group’s main underdog, and Greece, their main rival in the battle for second place, with an identical score (3:0).
Denzel Dumfries – top scorer of Dutch national team
And then they dealt with Ireland (2:1) on the road. Denzel Dumfries showed himself the best of all – for three games the Inter Milan midfielder made five goals and along with Bruno Fernandes from the Portuguese national team is the best assistant in the current qualification. Nathan Ake, Wout Weghorst and Cody Gakpo have all scored two goals each.
In the semifinals of the UEFA Nations League, the Dutch lost to Croatia (2:4 extra time), and in an encounter for third place they lost to Italy, which had lost stability (2:3). And this despite the fact that in both cases they played at their home stadium. It seems that the support of the home stands will not help the team this time.
It should be noted that the appointment of Ronald Koeman as head coach of the Dutch national team has not justified itself so far. The former legendary footballer, who failed crushingly as FC Barcelona coach, is leading the national team in an unclear direction.
The team performance may also be affected by the fact that one of the Netherlands’ attacking leaders Cody Gakpo is in the infirmary. Jurgen Klopp noted the positive dynamics, emphasizing that the footballer is already walking without a bandage.
However, in the meeting of the last round of the English Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion FC, he did not play. It is unlikely to take part in the upcoming match. It is reported that the forward may miss a few weeks to recover as best as possible.
France News & Current Form:
Didier Deschamps’ star-studded squad has one foot already in the final part of the European Championship, and only a miracle can prevent it. The Tri-colored are walking along the tournament path of the current qualification, as it is supposed to be for vice-champions of the world – firmly, confidently, and without noticing the opponents.
The French are leading in their group, having won all 5 matches. In addition to the Dutch, they beat Ireland (1:0 and 2:0), Gibraltar (3:0), Greece (1:0). During this period of time, wards of Didier Deschamps scored 11 goals, and did not concede a single one.
First of all, this is the merit of Mike Maignan. The goalkeeper has gained excellent form. In particular, thanks to his efforts, AC Milan are at the top of the standings of the Italian championship. However, as it turned out, he has a pretty good replacement among the field players. It is about Olivier Giroud, of course.
Olivier Giroud tried himself as a goalkeeper in a recent game
In the last round of Serie A against Genoa CFC, Maignan received a red card. His place in the goal was taken by none other than Giroud. Olivier conquered the crowd with his performance. As a result, he was included in the symbolic team of the tour as a goalkeeper.
The long-time leader and top scorer of the French national team will surely give an additional charge of energy and a positive mood. Olivier himself called his goalkeeping experience incredible and said that he will never forget it (although sometimes as a child he played in the position of goalkeeper).
Another top player of the Blues, Antoine Griezmann, is also in excellent form. In 12 matches in Atletico de Madrid he scored five goals. In particular, thanks to the efforts of the 32-year-old striker, the Spanish team succeeds in all tournaments.
Only the captain of the Tri-colored Kylian Mbappe is not in the best shape.
“Mbappe is not in the best shape now. In a player of his status, it is immediately noticeable. He knows about the missed goals in Sunday’s game. But in the second half, Mbappe was fast and wanted a result.”
“The problems with him in the summer and having a match every three days this season are the reasons for Mbappe not being in the best form. But the main thing is that Mbappe is smiling and happy at the club,” coach Deschamps said.
However, the experienced specialist also said a few words in justification of the striker, and also praised him for his efforts and desire to improve. The return to the national team will surely benefit the player.
In PSG Mbappe is forced to play an unfamiliar and not very suitable strategy, based on ball control. It can be seen that he fusses a lot, and in the end it negatively affects the realization. In Deschamps’ strategy, Kylian gets much more freedom of action and space. And this is bearing excellent fruit.
The Blues also have some losses – defenders Jules Kounde and William Saliba will not come to the location of the national team. The first received a knee ligament sprain, the second – damage to the toe.
Netherlands form guide: L-W-L-L-W-W
France form guide: W-W-W-W-W-L
Netherlands vs France Head-To-Head Record:
| Netherlands | Draw | France |
| 11 | 3 | 15 |
- August 31, 2017: France 4 – 0 Netherlands (FIFA World Cup);
- September 9, 2018: France 2 – 1 Netherlands (UEFA Nations League);
- November 16, 2018: Netherlands 2 – 0 France (UEFA Nations League);
- March 24, 2023: France 4 – 0 Netherlands (UEFA EURO).
Netherlands vs France Predicted XI:
Netherlands’ possible starting lineup (3-4-3): Verbruggen, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Dumfries, De Roon, Veerman, Blind; Simons, Weghorst, Malen.
France’s possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Pavard, Konate, L. Hernandez, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
Statistical preview of the match Netherlands vs France:
- First XI average age of the Dutch team is 28.4 years, while France’s First XI average age is 27.9 years.
- France have not lost in 6 of their last 8 matches against this opponent.
- Netherlands are unbeaten in their last 5 matches.
- In the last 5 games, France conceded an average of 0.40 goals per game and scored an average of 1.60 goals per game.
- In the last 5 games Netherlands conceded an average of 1.60 goals per game and scored an average of 2.40 goals per game.
- Felix Zwayer has been appointed as the center referee. The referee has officiated eight games so far this season, taking into account different tournaments and competitions. He averages 4.63 yellow cards per game and 23.25 fouls per match.
What has been said before the match:
Ronald Koeman, head coach of the Dutch team, ahead of the clash with France:
“I see crazy results every week. We hope to have such a plan on Friday that we can make it very difficult for France and also get a result. Of course, we realize that we do not have the strongest team. But that means nothing in football, I see matches and results every week where you think: how did that happen?”
“But it seems that nothing can be done about the calendar, which is impossibly full. I try to discuss it every year at UEFA, but it only seems to get crazier. Just look at the 2030 World Cup, with matches in three continents.”
“I believe that we can get a result against France on Friday. Of course, the match against Greece is even more important, but everything you achieve against France can also make it easier afterward.”
“It is clear that the result in Greece will be crucial for this group. But we first play against France and now approach that match as if it were the last. Although it may well be that during the match, whatever the score may be, you start thinking more about Monday’s match.”
French player Ibrahima Konate about the revenge their opponents need to take:
“We are playing big in this match, against this team, it will be a very big match with a lot at stake. Even though it went very well for us in the first leg, we saw that they had quality. They were missing a few players.”
“We must forget this first match and not leave with certainties. We have a qualification to seek and they have a revenge to take. We discussed it a lot with my teammate Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool FC. They are waiting for us around the corner, it will be very intense at home. You shouldn’t be surprised.”
“But we hope to have a very good performance, a very good result there and come back with qualification. Our goal will also be to continue to win all our matches and finish in first place. My personal goal, and I hope for the other defenders and the whole team, is to not concede a goal during these qualifications, until the end. This will be an achievement that we can put in a box on our list of achievements.”
Netherlands vs France Prediction:
The French are one step away from guaranteeing themselves a trip to Germany. In the current Euro qualifying cycle, they have given no reason to doubt themselves, including an easy and spectacular win over their main rivals at the start. In contrast, the Dutch are not yet fully satisfied with Koeman’s return to the coaching bridge. The specialist has already failed in the final of the UEFA Nations League, and after the upcoming round may let Greece ahead in the table. It is worth recalling that Deschamps has already beaten the Netherlands 6 times and only in one case he was defeated. In addition, he had 3 duels with Koeman, two of which ended in favor of the Frenchman. At the same time, the Oranje are unbeaten at home for three years now, and their squad is just as full of both established and rising stars. The Flying Dutchmen are a solid team, often reaching the advanced stages of tournaments, although not as far as their prominent neighbors. So the trip to Amsterdam will not be an easy walk for the leader of the group. The French are definitely not underestimating their last vis-a-vis: the last visit to the land of tulips resulted in a defeat where Les Bleus were even unable to net at least once. We believe that extremely motivated hosts should cling on to at least a draw.
Parimatch News staff prediction:
We say: France will not lose and the total will be over 1.5 – Yes.
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