Euro 2024 Group Stage Preview: Group D
We now turn our focus to a tricky looking Group D that includes two-time winners France and 1988 champions Netherlands
Continuing our preview of the six Euro 2024 groups, we now turn our focus to a tricky looking Group D that includes two-time winners France and 1988 champions Netherlands. We will once again assess the chances of each of the group’s four nations, providing betting tips and fixtures as well as latest Euro 2024 odds courtesy of our partners at William Hill.
Poland
Poland were one of the last nations to book their place at this summer’s European Championships as they broke Welsh hearts in a play-off penalty shootout in Cardiff. Poland had finished third in their qualifying group behind Albania and Czech Republic but play-off wins over Estonia and Wales will see them play in their fourth consecutive European Championships.
Poland reached the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup but some of their more influential players have since retired whilst captain and all-time record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski will turn 36 in just a couple of months.
Netherlands
Netherlands have bounced back from missing successive major tournaments in 2016 and 2018 but building the foundations of a national side ready to compete with the world’s best once more. The Dutch finished second in qualifying behind France but did reach the semi-finals of last year's UEFA Nations League.
Several key players in this Netherlands squad ply their trade in Germany and this could be a breakthrough tournament for two of them. Xavi Simons was the top goalscorer in the Dutch Eredivisie last season and has kicked on again at RB Leipzig this season whilst Jeremie Frimpong has been excellent for Xabi Alonso’s record-breaking Bayer Leverkusen side.
Ronald Koeman is spoilt for choice in defence with Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake and Micky van de Ven all playing consistently well at some of the biggest clubs in England whilst Matthijs de Ligt remains one of the best defenders in Europe on his day.
Both Cody Gakpo (23 caps, 9 goals) and Memphis Depay (90 caps, 44 goals) boast solid numbers in front of goal internationally and either player is capable of competing for the tournament’s Golden Boot. Gakpo and Depay are both priced at 40/1 to finish as the tournament’s top goalscorer.
Austria
Ralf Ragnick’s rather forgettable stint as Manchester United’s interim manager is in stark contrast to the excellent job he's done for the Austrian national team. Austria have lost just one of their last 15 internationals, winning twelve. Recent international friendly wins over the likes of Serbia (2-1), Turkey (6-1) and Germany (2-0) have been particularly impressive.
Marcel Sabitzer scored four times in qualification and like Ragnick, the former Manchester United midfielder has certainly fared better since departing Old Trafford. The 30-year-old played a starring role in Borussia Dortmund’s road to the UEFA Champions League final.
A considerable number of Austria’s Euro 2024 squad play in the German Bundesliga at that familiarity could prove crucial if they’re to progress beyond the group stage. Ragnick and Austria have however been dealt a major pre-tournament blow by the news the captain David Alaba has failed to recover from a season-ending cruciate ligament injury in time to be considered for their squad.
France
Two-time winners France are amongst the bookies’ favourites to win this summer’s European Championships and the two-time winners boast astonishing strength in depth throughout their squad. New Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe is undoubtedly the star amongst stars but incredibly failed to net a single goal at Euro 2020. Mbappe did however bounce back to win the Golden Boot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by scoring eight goals in Qatar and he is the red-hot favourite at 5/1 to win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot.
Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann have so often impressed as France’s front three but Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram is pushing for a starting berth following an impressive debut season in Italy. Paris Saint-Germain’s young midfielder prospect Warren Zaire-Emery could enjoy a breakthrough tournament if selected alongside Real Madrid’s double-winning duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
In the qualifiers Les Bleus progressed from a tricky looking group with seven wins and one draw from eight matches. France scored 29 goals in their eight matches and conceded just three times. France won home and away against Group D rivals Netherlands with Mbappe scoring twice in each match.
Group D Fixtures & Odds
Poland v Netherlands
16th June | Hamburg
| Poland | Draw | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| 4/1 | 3/1 | 4/6 |
Austria v France
17th June | Dusseldorf
| Austria | Draw | France |
|---|---|---|
| 11/2 | 7/2 | 1/2 |
Poland v Austria
21st June | Berlin
| Poland | Draw | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| 12/5 | 13/5 | 11/10 |
Netherlands v France
21st June | Leipzig
| Netherlands | Draw | France |
|---|---|---|
| 7/2 | 29/10 | 3/4 |
Netherlands v Austria
25th June | Berlin
| Netherlands | Draw | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| 20/21 | 23/10 | 23/10 |
France v Poland
25th June | Dortmund
| France | Draw | Poland |
|---|---|---|
| 3/10 | 7/2 | 15/2 |
Group D Winner
| Nation | Odds |
|---|---|
| France | 8/15 |
| Netherlands | 11/4 |
| Austria | 15/2 |
| Poland | 10/1 |
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