Euro 2024: Rivals Set for Paris in the Springtime

France vs Netherlands

If it seems only a matter of weeks ago that Holland were last in action – a thrilling, fractious and nail biting World Cup quarter-final with eventual winners Argentina that brought the curtain down on Louis van Gaal’s glorious managerial career – that’s because it was.

Yet here we are, little over three months on and the road to Euro 2024 is beginning with a classic encounter you anticipate in the latter stages of a major competition rather than a qualifier.

Don’t let that put you off, though.

The fightback from two nations, both aggrieved at the manner of their tournament exit (penalty shoot-outs are a lottery), begins here.

Talking Points

Let’s start with the visitors who have a new manager in charge. Except he’s only new to a degree.

That’s because replacing van Gaal, after his third and final spell in charge of the national team, is Ronald Koeman who previously coached Oranje for two years between 2018 and 2020.

Then he helped them qualify for Euro 2020, where they were knocked out by the Czech Republic in the last 16. He is now back and has signed a contract which will run until the next World Cup in 2026.

Upon his return to the role, Koeman revealed he will look to play a back four as opposed to a back three used under Van Gaal.

He has named his squad and included places for Mats Wieffer and Lutsharel Geertruida (both of Feyenoord) and Bert Verbruggen (Anderlecht), while Newcastle United centre-back Sven Botman United could make his international debut.

It’s as you were for his opposite number, Didier Deschamps, where there were always going to be personnel changes.

That was inevitable when former captain Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane announced their international retirements following the World Cup.

Deschamps has called up Brice Samba (Lens), Khéphren Thuram (Nice), and Wesley Fofana (Chelsea) for the first time alongside some familiar faces from the tournament such as Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), and Jordan Veretout (Marseille).

Meanwhile, goalkeeping trio Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens), and Alphonse Areola (West Ham) have all been selected in the wake of Lloris’s retirement.

After their agonising World Cup Final defeat at the hands of Argentina when Kylian Mbappe – this week confirmed as new captain – announced himself as the world’s top player, Deschamps has not had it easy.

The 54-year-old’s future with the national team was under scrutiny and there were even suggestions he would be replaced, although French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët – who has since stepped aside – hardly helped when he made dismissive comments about Zinedine Zidane who had been strongly linked with succeeding his former team mate.

Le Graët duly apologised to Zidane after saying he would not take a call from one of France’s most decorated players.

In the end as that was played out publicly, Deschamps kept his counsel and the Federation has stood by its man who has guided them to three of the last four major tournament finals.

Now for Euro 2024 highlights.

History

Their most recent meeting came in the Nations League in 2018 in Rotterdam when Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay netted late in each half to give the Dutch a 2-0 win.

That avenged a defeated two months earlier when the newly crowned world champions marked their triumphant return to Paris as Mbappe and Giroud scored in a 2-1 win.

Of the 27 meetings between these nations, Les Bleus have the edge with 14 wins to the Dutch’s 11 successes and three draws.

The Oranje have had a distinct upper hand in tournaments in modern times.

In Euro 2000, a tournament the French went onto win, Netherlands ran out 3-2 winners in the group stage.

Fans of a certain vintage will nostalgically remember the goalscorers that night – Patrick Kluivert, Frank de Boer, and Bolo Zenden.

Netherlands also romped to a 4-1 success at Euro 2008 but they were knocked out by Russia in the quarter-finals.

Betting Tip

While it’s all new (and old) at the Netherlands helm, there’s continuity for France and that is reflected in the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds.

Les Bleus are on offer 1X2 @ 1.85 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.14, compared to the Dutch 1X2 @ 3.55 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.36. The 1X2 draw will pay out @ 3.35.

Another 2-1 home success on French soil is available @ 6.80 with Correct Score, while goal options include total 0-1 @ 2.73, 2-3 @ 1.83, 4-6 @ 4.10 and over 2.50 @ 2.16.

I am going for the recently deposed world champions here ranked third in the world against the sixth-placed Dutch, and I fully expect both nations to reach Euro 2024.

 

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