The highly anticipated match between France and the Netherlands on the morning of June 22 is not just about determining the top position in Group D but is also seen as an early final in the Euro 2024 tournament.

Following the conclusion of the first round of matches, the Netherlands temporarily leads Group D with 3 points, tied with France but ahead on goal difference, while Austria and Poland occupy the bottom spots. In the upcoming second round of matches, Group D’s early final will unfold as the Netherlands takes on France. This matchup promises to be captivating as both teams strive to secure an early qualification to the Round of 16 as group leaders.

In their initial matches, both France and the Netherlands encountered difficulties in securing their 3 points against teams presumed to be weaker. The Netherlands had to mount a comeback against Poland and only secured their victory in the 83rd minute, whereas France relied on an own goal by Wober to clinch their win.

However, while the Netherlands’ win was considered unconvincing, France’s performance drew criticism for failing to showcase their full potential in preparation for the knockout stages.

This assessment stems from the fact that in their opener, despite fielding top attackers such as Kylian Mbappe, Griezmann, Dembele, and Thuram, coach Didier Deschamps faced uncertainties in his use of Kante, Upamecano, and Rabiot, opting to keep in-form stars like Camavinga, Tchouameni, and Konate on the bench. Clearly, the wealth of talented players provides Deschamps with the flexibility to rotate the squad and devise various tactical approaches to avoid predictability.

However, tonight’s game could be a challenging moment for the French team as they must cope without Kylian Mbappe, who sustained an injury during the match against Austria. This situation casts doubt on France’s prospects for their upcoming clash against the Netherlands.

As for the Netherlands, Coach Koeman addressed the absence of key midfielders like De Jong, Wijnaldum, and Koopmeiners with a solid midfield performance in the opening match. The current concern for the Dutch coach is the early exclusion of Depay from the starting lineup, as the former Manchester United player was identified as a weak link in the team’s recent match. Substituting Depay with Weghorst, a player who possesses both form and physicality more suited to the central forward role, could enhance the Netherlands’ chances of causing an upset.