Netherlands vs France Predictions

• France beat Netherlands by an aggregate score of 6-1 in their two qualifying clashes
• Oranje have won seven of their last eight games, with seven of those victories coming to nil
• Excluding penalty shootouts, Les Bleus are unbeaten in their last 13 competitive international matches

Unconvincing wins a feature of Group D

Both France and the Netherlands made winning starts to their Euro 2024 campaigns, but there was little to suggest in either game that these two are the elite sides that many talked them up to be prior to the start of the summer spectacular. 

Les Bleus stuttered to a 1-0 victory over Austria which was earned via an own goal from Maximilian Wober while Oranje struggled to create meaningful chances for long periods against Poland before Wout Weghorst’s late strike sealed the three points. 

It was far from vintage from either side, making this huge clash at the top of Group D a difficult one to call. France remain favourites, but they are odds-against following their poor showing against Austria and the two could be hard to split on Friday. 

Mbappe absence may prove costly for Les Bleus

The Netherlands may have struggled to create good chances against Poland, but they still managed to get off 21 shots and the introduction of Weghorst from the bench also gave their game another dimension. 

The two sides met in qualifying and France won both games, notching an aggregate score of 6-1 in the process. However, the Dutch may fancy their chances more this time around, for a couple of reasons. 

Firstly, they have won seven of their eight games since the latest of those defeats, recording three 4-0 wins and a 6-0 rout in that run. And secondly, Kylian Mbappe is a huge doubt for this clash. 

France’s star man, who scored four of Les Bleus’ six goals against the Dutch in qualifying, had his nose broken against Austria and he could miss this game at the very least, with his potential absence likely to give Oranje a chance of earning a vital point on Friday. 

Dutch draw likely in Leipzig

William Saliba struggled against Austria, needing to be bailed out by N’Golo Kante on numerous occasions, and France only managed 48% possession against Das Team, suggesting the 2022 World Cup finalists can be got at in Leipzig. 

France have kept three clean sheets in a row, though, and boast plenty of attacking talent even in Mbappe’s absence, so a low-scoring draw could be the outcome on Friday. 

Antoine Griezmann and Dayot Upamecano were the only other Les Bleus to score against the Dutch in qualifying and the former should be backed to step up in his captain’s absence against the Netherlands.