Netherlands, Croatia or Denmark, which opponent for France in the quarterfinals?

The French team will know its opponent in the quarter-finals of the Nations League this Friday, following the draw scheduled for noon in Nyon, Switzerland. After their victory against Italy last Sunday (1-3), the Blues finished at the top of their group and are therefore in the first hat. The quarter-finals will take place on March 20 and 23. It remains to know the opponent. Review of the three possibilities, Italy and France cannot cross paths again.

The Netherlands, lacking benchmarks

The backbone is clearly drawn, from captain Virgil van Dijk in defense to the two wingers Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen, including Frenkie de Jong in the middle. But the Netherlands, led by the experienced Ronald Koeman (61), did not reach a milestone in the results. They struggled out of their group at Euro 2024, hanging on with France (0-0), before a modest performance against Romania (3-0) and Turkey (2-1) to fall in the semi-finals. -finals against England (1-2).

The “Oranje” have only won two of their six Nations League matches, notably losing to Germany in Munich (1-0). Koeman did not escape, as often and like his predecessors, harsh criticism from former players. “If I listen to them, they have never had a bad match in their career”vituperated the former FC Barcelona coach. Not the scariest opponent on paper for the Blues.

Croatia seeks a second wind

3^e of the 2022 World Cup, Croatia was only beaten on penalties in the final of the 2023 Nations League by Spain (0-0, 4-5 on the tabs). Then experienced heavy disillusionment at Euro 2024, where it stalled against Albania (2-2) and left with an Italian goal at the last second (1-1). In the Nations League, they have not won any of their three away matches. Understandable against Portugal (2-1), less against Poland (3-3) and Scotland (1-0).

There is almost nothing left of the golden generation that took them to the final of the 2018 World Cup, apart from their coach Zlatko Dalic and Luka Modric who is starting to look his age (39 years old). “Maybe there was a crisis of results but not a crisis of the game”defended Dalic, who claims not to have “not afraid of France, Germany or Spain”.

Denmark under reconstruction

Kasper Hjulmand did not survive the elimination from Euro 2024, after three draws in a group at relative level (England, Serbia, Slovenia) and a defeat against Germany (2-0). Denmark is 21^e in the Fifa rankings, its worst place since 2017. Midfielder Christian Eriksen (140 caps) is still there, like goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (38 years old).

The Danes have become accustomed to meeting the Blues in the World Cup. First in 2018 for a pitiful draw (0-0), then in 2022 where they were blown away by a double from Kylian Mbappé (2-1). When it’s the World Cup, France responds. When it’s the League of Nations, less so. Denmark had beaten Didier Deschamps’ players twice in 2022, in Saint-Denis (1-2) then in Copenhagen (2-0). The Blues have been warned.