Euro 2024 Group D predictions: France look too good for group rivals
France are ranked second in the world
Netherlands won last Euros held in Germany in 1988
Recommended bet: Poland to finish bottom of the group
Much-fancied France should come out on top in Group D at Euro 2024 as Les Bleus look to justify their short odds to win the tournament outright.
France, who were runners-up in the World Cup two years ago, are among the strongest sides heading to Germany and are expected to finish above the Netherlands, Austria and Poland in the group stage.
France to top Group D at 1/2
France have world-class talent in abundance and will be feared going into Germany 2024 as a squad loaded with players like Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba, Eduardo Camavinga and Antoine Griezmann aim to be crowned kings of Europe for the third time overall and first time since 2000.
Les Bleus are fancied to go all the way this summer and they should establish their credentials early on by dominating Group D.
They overcame the Dutch home and away in qualifying, topping Group B when going unbeaten overall, and Didier Deschamps' well-oiled machine should have few problems swatting aside the Poles and Austrians in the early stages.
Netherlands (1/4 to qualify) the next best
The Dutch have often not quite lived up to expectations in summer tournaments with their runners-up place at the World Cup back in 2010 their best performance in a major competition since they won the Euros in Germany in 1988.
There is a lot to admire about the current crop assembled by Ronald Koeman, but the feeling is they will finish second behind Les Bleus in the section. That would still be enough to go through and if they hit their stride, they could go a long way this summer.
Virgil van Dijk remains one of the best central defenders around and they have other key men like Nathan Ake, Frenkie de Jong and Cody Gakpo to call upon, while rising stars such as Micky van de Ven and Jeremie Frimpong are others to watch closely.
Netherlands finished second in qualifying Group B, four points behind France, and it could be a similar story in the tournament proper.
Poland (5/4 to qualify) have huge task
Poland were actually the last side to seal their place in the Euros, scraping through a tense play-off against Wales and an early exit from Germany looks to be on the cards.
They are preparing for a fifth consecutive European Championship but, after finishing third in their qualifying group behind Albania and Czech Republic, hopes are not too high they will make much of an impression in the tournament.
Coach Michal Probierz has attempted to steady the ship after Fernando Santos' brief but damaging spell in charge, but he has few players of the required quality to go far in Germany.
Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski are both in the veteran stage and even though there are capable performers like Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior and Arkadiusz Milik in their ranks, too, they do not look anywhere near good enough to properly compete in a tough group.
Austria (10/11 to qualify) might surprise some
Austria finished second to Belgium in Group F to qualify for their fourth consecutive Euros and they will have serious designs on at least battling for second place in the section.
They were knocked out in the last-16 by eventual champions Italy at Euro 2020, and under the astute and pragmatic guidance of former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick, they will be organised and difficult to beat.
However, captain David Alaba has been ruled out with a knee injury – a serious blow – but a major plus is that a lot of their squad are based in Germany.
Even so, they look to be without a regular goalscorer, as the likes of Michael Gregoritsch, Andreas Weimann and the now 35-year-old Marko Arnautovic cannot really be relied upon in the final third.
Experienced midfielder Marcel Sabitzer will be helped by Florian Grillitsch, Christoph Baumgartner and Konrad Laimer in midfield and second place in the group is a distinct possibility, especially if the Dutch falter.
Verdict
France look the best bet to finish top and the Netherlands should be good enough for second, but Austria will be dangerous too.
Poland appear to lack the quality to hurt their opponents and are set to finish bottom of the group.
