Netherlands vs France Prediction Euro 2024

⚽ Football EURO 2024 Match Preview

⏰ 21 June 2024 - 20:00 GMT +1

🏟 Stadium: Red Bull Arena (Leipzig)

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 of the ball. The match will have given manager Ronald Koeman plenty to think about, although the Oranje have won each of their last four Euro finals group games and seven of their last eight internationals in all (L1).

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 H2Hs, 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.

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 Mbappé suffered a broken nose following an aerial collision and was then booked for timewasting to add insult to injury.

While Mbappé's wait for a first European Championship goal continues, Les Bleus are bidding to extend their run of not losing a Euro finals 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.

Where to watch?

📺 Netherlands vs France Live Stream on TV

📋 Players to watch: 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.

⚡ Match Facts: Each of the last five H2Hs (France: W4, L1) featured goals in both halves.

Netherlands vs France  Betting Tips

💡 Prediction: This is a huge clash between two of the traditional European powerhouses. The Netherlands showed their fighting spirit by coming from behind against Poland, but France will provide a sterner test. Deschamps' side were far from their best against Austria but still ground out a win. With so much quality in both squads, goals could be on the cards. Mbappe's potential absence would be a big blow for France, while the Dutch may opt to start Weghorst after his heroics. A tight, entertaining encounter looks likely.

Betting tips: Both teams to score holds appeal given the attacking talents on show and the likelihood of goals. Cody Gakpo and Antoine Griezmann have been among the goals recently, making them tempting anytime goalscorer options. With the quality of these sides, over 2.5 goals could also be considered despite France's defensive solidity so far.