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France vs Netherlands: Head to head statistics
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Recommended bets
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Match preview
Group B’s two heavyweights go head-to-head in this glamorous Friday night fixture in Paris.
France have qualified for every European Championships since 1988, while Netherlands have only missed out on two of the last 12 Euros both, coincidentally, stages in France, that of 1984 and 2016.
With Greece, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar completing this section, both are expected to end up in a top two spot.
When France were last in action, it was no less than in a World Cup Final, beaten on penalties by Argentina back in December.
This means, under Didier Deschamps, they’ve reached four major finals, winning both the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League three years later.
So, to complete the set, les Bleus would love to win their first Euros since 2000 next summer in Berlin.
As for Netherlands, Ronald Koeman is back for his second stint as manager, less than three years after leaving.
During his first spell, Koeman guided Holland to the inaugural Nations League Final, beating Germany, France and England en route.
He also led his country to Euro 2020 qualification, which was a big deal, given that they’d missed out on back-to-back tournaments beforehand.
Including friendlies, Oranje are unbeaten in 20 matches, topping their Nations League group last September before reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, dumped out by Argentina on penalties.
This record will be sorely put to the test in Paris, given that the Dutch haven’t beaten France away from home for 87 years, losing their last five encounters on French soil.
Will les Bleus make home advantage count at Stade de France?
France team news
Since the World Cup, both Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane have retired.
Meanwhile William Saliba, Wesley Fofana, Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez, N’Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, Ousmane Dembélé and Christopher Nkunku are injured.
Despite all those absentees, Didier Deschamps still has an outrageous amount of talent to call upon.
The manager has already confirmed that Mike Maignan will be his new number one, earning just his sixth cap.
Real Madrid duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni could be deployed in midfield, with Antoine Griezmann in a free number ten role, where he was so effective in Qatar.
New captain Kylian Mbappé will lead the attack, seeking to add to his 36 international goals.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Konaté, Upamecano, T Hernandez; Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Griezmann; Coman, Giroud, Mbappé.
Netherlands team news
Ronald Koeman will be bringing with him a depleted squad, which isn’t ideal when you’re facing, probably, Europe’s strongest national team.
Five players, including Sven Botman, Matthijs de Ligt and Cody Gakpo, pulled out of the squad on Thursday due to a virus.
Meantime, Frenkie de Jong and Steven Bergwijn are both injured.
None of the three goalkeepers from the World Cup squad have been recalled, but Jasper Cillessen is back in, set for his 64th cap.
Memphis will remain their main goal threat; he scored a penalty when these two last met, a 2-0 Dutch win in Rotterdam in November 2018.
Predicted XI (5-3-2): Cillessen; Dumfries, Timber, van Dijk, de Vrij, Aké; Wijnaldum, de Roon, Klaassen; Malen, Memphis.
