Euro 2024 Preview Group D – Netherlands, France, Poland and Austria

Euro 2024 is starting tonight and a month of excitement is ahead of us. Germany will host the tournament from München to Gelsenkirchen through Frankfurt. Despite some teams having to travel more than others, the tournament promises to be thrilling. Everyone likes the Euros, and Group D is particularly intriguing.

The Netherlands: Injuries and Opportunities

Group Qualification Odds: 1.23 (22bet)

‘Oranje’ would, on any day, be the favourite to advance. The Netherlands has always been among the favourites, but this year presents some challenges.

Injuries have plagued the Dutch squad before the start of the tournament, turning what could have been a formidable midfield into a weakened line-up. Marten De Roon, Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners will miss the tournament due to injuries.

This means that the Dutch will not be the dream team many anticipated, but they still have a favourable draw (excluding France). 

The Dutch can count on an in-form Memphis Depay, while Xavi Simons is poised to be one of the team’s main stars. Virgil Van Dijk will lead the backline, accompanied by Manchester City’s Nathan Aké. Although the midfield options may be less inspiring, the defence and the attack still generate excitement. Koeman’s strategy will likely focus on counter-attacking football instead, a style he is comfortable with, as he has never been known for prioritizing midfield control.

France: The Tournament Favorites

Group Winner Odds: 1.55 (22bet)

France is not only the favourite of Group D but also the favourite to win the entire tournament. France’s achievements under Didier Deschamps speak for themselves – a World Cup Final in 2022 and a World Cup victory in 2018. However, the 2020 Euros was a complete disaster for Mbappé and his team, with a penalty miss that saw Switzerland advance to the quarterfinals instead.

This is a memory Mbappé will want to erase. Having just signed for Real Madrid, a lot will be expected from the superstar in this tournament. France will build around him, ensuring he can work his magic. His pace and speed of thought often leave defenders in his wake, and he will be in the spotlight once again. Mbappé can also count on Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid), and Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) for support, whose mission will be to overload defences and create chances for Mbappé.

While France is renowned for its forward line, the midfield, featuring Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga, deserves praise for their performances at Real Madrid. This offensive set-up will be tough to stop for any team facing the French. 

France enters the tournament as favorites, a team that continually impresses. Whether any team can exploit the rare weaknesses in their system remains to be seen.

Poland: The Underdogs

Group Qualification Odds: 2.65 (22bet)

There is no doubt that Poland is the underdog of Group D, a common position for teams that qualify through the play-offs. ‘Polska’ had to defeat Estonia and later Wales to secure their spot in the EUROs.

The group is undeniably tough, and Poland’s hopes are limited. However, they can still count on the ever-reliable Robert Lewandowski and a promising midfield. 

Kacper Urbański is one of the young players to watch, having shown great potential in his appearances for Poland. Other key players, like Piotr Zeliński and Jakub Moder, will provide the required foundation to support the defense. The backline will rely on Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior to guard against counter-attacks.

Poland emphasized a strong defensive strategy throughout their qualification, prioritizing preventing goals over scoring them. How successful this approach will be at Euro 2024 is a different question, but it is certainly worth trying given the team’s limited offensive capabilities.

Austria: The Potential Dark Horses

Group Qualification Odds: 1.8 (22bet)

Austria stands as one of the favourites for the classical underdog role, with the potential to surprise many. Under the leadership of Ralf Rangnick, the team is known for its solid defensive structure and relentless pressing.

The Austrians were knocked out by eventual champions Italy (2-1) in the 2020 EURO. Since then, they have only improved with impressive performances against Turkey (6-1) and Germany (2-0).

Austria now boasts several internationally recognized names, such as Marcel Sabitzer (Dortmund), Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), as well as Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich). The team’s leader would have been David Alaba – but an injury will see him miss the tournament. However, other notable players like Marko Arnautović, Florian Kainz, and Philipp Mwene are ready to step up.

Their defensive set-up can be problematic for overly expansive teams, leading many to think they will be the tournament’s dark horse. They will kick off their campaign with a heavyweight clash against France. On the bright side, they might encounter a rusty French side.