Opposed to entering the Netherlands in three weeks, Didier Deschamps’ France team is not immune to a bad start in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Unhappy finalist of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and now 3rd nation in the Fifa Ranking, theFrench team resumed on Friday March 24 at the Stade de France, against the Netherlands. It will not only be a question of congratulating the adventurers of Doha. No, a good result is mandatory to get the Euro 2024 qualifiers off to a good start (which will take place in Germany).
De Oranje intractable
Due to the catastrophic results in the Nations League in June 2022, Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus were in the 2nd hat of the qualifying draw and fell to the Netherlands, who were among the seeds to avoid . And for good reason, the Dutch selection is one of the best teams currently, both in the game and in the results.
Frenkie De Jong’s Oranje have not lost for 20 games, having been eliminated from the last World Cup on penalties by Argentina. The last defeat dates back to the round of 16 of Euro 2021 against the Czech Republic (0-2)! Since then, the Netherlands have made 7 wins in 10 matches in the CM 2022 qualifiers, then 5 out of 6 (with two successes against Belgium) in the League of Nations.
Ireland-France, the trap?
Kylian Mbappe and his teammates will then continue with a trip to Ireland and a match in Dublin 4 days later. A much more accessible opposition, even if the Irish are able to hold in check large nations. They were 2-2 against Belgium in March 2022 (in a friendly) and 0-0 against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in November 2021 (in a World Cup qualifier). The Irish public is impatiently awaiting France’s reception…
The France team is not immune to a poor performance in its first two matches – which will put the debate on Deschamps’ extension back on the table – but it can largely make up for it afterwards against Gibraltar and Greece in June. It will be necessary to finish in the first two of this group to qualify directly for Euro 2024.
