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France are looking for a win that would mark their status as contenders for the Euro 2024 trophy.
The Netherlands opened their UEFA Euro 2024 campaign with a 2-1 win over Poland, but they had to do it the hard way, coming from behind as substitute Wout Weghorst clinched victory late on with his first touch.
The match would have given manager Ronald Koeman plenty to think about, although the Oranje have won each of their last four Euro group games and seven of their last eight internationals in all (L1).
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14:09 - 21.06.2024
EURO 2024: Underdog Slovakia look to extend run against a rebounding Ukraine
Slovakia aim to continue its strong defense after upsetting Belgium, while Ukraine seeks recovery from a loss to Romania.
As Koeman considers whether Weghorst deserves a more prominent role against France, he’ll need to come up with something special as the Dutch have only won one of the last eight head-to-heads, losing the other seven.
Two of those defeats were in qualifying for this tournament, so they know exactly what they’re up against as they take on the two-time European champions.
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13:05 - 21.06.2024
Can England break the 58-year curse at Euro 2024?
After France beat Austria 1-0 on Monday evening, winning this match could well put them on course to top the group, while a third consecutive clean sheet bodes well for Didier Deschamps’ men (W2, D1).
They did not escape unscathed, however, as captain Kylian Mbappe suffered a broken nose following an aerial collision and was then booked for timewasting to add insult to injury.
While Mbappe’s wait for a first European Championship goal continues, Les Bleus are bidding to extend their run of not losing a Euro game inside 90 minutes since 2012 (W7, D5).
Yet, France have never beaten the Dutch without needing extra time and penalties at the Euros (D1, L2 before spot-kicks) although Deschamps captained the side that won after a penalty shootout in the earliest of those three fixtures, which took place at Euro 1996 in England.
Players to Watch
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10:07 - 21.06.2024
The record Didier Deschamps could set that would immortalize him in football history forever
Didier Deschamps stands on the cusp of footballing immortality with the potential to etch his name in history books forever.
Cody Gakpo’s goal for the Netherlands against Poland was his fourth in as many starts in major championship group matches, with three of his last six goals for club and country arriving before the half-hour mark.
Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring in the second minute when France thrashed the Dutch 4-0 in March 2023, but his last six strikes at club level were between the 25th and 55th minutes.
France Looking for a Statement Win
France's narrow 1-0 win over Austria may have secured them three points, but it was far from a convincing performance.
As they prepare to face a formidable Netherlands side, Didier Deschamps will be keen for his team to make a statement.
A big win against the Dutch would solidify their position as one of the favourites for the title and potentially secure their spot at the top of the group.
Despite their dominance in recent head-to-head encounters, the French team knows they can't afford to be complacent.
The loss of Mbappe, even if temporary, is a significant blow. The team will look to other stars like Antoine Griezmann to step up. Griezmann's early goal-scoring ability, demonstrated in the March 2023 fixture against the Netherlands, will be crucial.
As the Netherlands and France gear up for this crucial match, both teams have a lot at stake.
For France, it's about proving their mettle and establishing themselves as true contenders for the Euro 2024 title.
For the Netherlands, it's an opportunity to overturn their recent misfortunes against Les Bleus and make a strong statement of their own.
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