Against Poland (this Tuesday at 6 p.m.), the Blues have every interest in winning as widely as possible to finish at the top of Group D at Euro 2024, and thus switch to the half of the table opposite that of the Germany, Spain and Portugal, three of the favorites who have impressed the most since the start of the competition.
The stakes are crucial to calmly consider the rest of the competition. With qualification now guaranteed for the round of 16 of Euro 2024, the France team will focus on its new objective: occupy first place in Group D at the end of its match against Poland, this Tuesday (6 p.m. ), in Dortmund. This privileged position would give him the guarantee of not coming up against the other favorites of the competition before the final.
Germany, the host country, Spain, crowned in 2008 and 2012, and Portugal, winner in 2016, established this status by playing a pleasant and very effective game. Quite the opposite of France which has rather disappointed on these two aspects so far, and which will want to avoid the disaster scenario where it would meet all these big names too quickly in the competition. An eventuality which would seriously complicate her task, knowing that she is aiming for at least the last four.
Guaranteed to finish at least among the best thirds in groups, the Blues currently occupy second place in Group D, tied on points with the Netherlands, who scored one more goal in the tournament. An uncomfortable situation which makes the Dutch masters of their destiny. But the Batavian selection faces Austria, who can still believe in their qualification, while France meets Poland, already eliminated.
An extra day of rest
The Blues have serious reason to believe that they have a golden opportunity to gain an advantage over Ronald Koeman’s players. But to convert it we will have to score, which they were unable to do without Mbappé, and win against Poland. On a larger score than the Netherlands who challenge Austria in the other match, at the same time. So much for the dream scenario, but it is not the only one.
If Didier Deschamps’ players manage to move to the top of Group D before attacking the knockout phase, they will benefit from an additional day of rest before facing the second in Group F (the Czech Republic, Turkey or Georgia) dominated by Portugal, in the round of 16.
A fact which did not escape the coach, who promised to form “a team to seek qualification in the best possible place”. A team which hopes to be able to count on Kylian Mbappé, expected to give a boost to the offensive sector of the Blues.
The scenarios that offer first place in Group D to France
-France beats Poland and the Netherlands does not beat Austria
-France beats Poland by a bigger margin than the Netherlands against Austria or by the same margin but with two goals more than the Dutch
-France and the Netherlands draw and the Blues score two more goals against Poland than the Dutch against Austria
