The French are set, or at least, they now know two of their three opponents for Euro 2024, scheduled for June 14 to July 14 in Germany. The draw, organized on Saturday December 2 in Hamburg, placed the French selection led by Kylian Mbappé in Group D of the continental competition, alongside Austria and the Netherlands.
The fourth opponent, to be determined from Wales, Finland, Poland and Estonia, will be known at the end of the play-off phase on March 26.
“It’s a dense group,” responded Didier Deschamps, interviewed on TMC by videoconference due to a recent operation following back pain. With the Netherlands in hat 3, that makes for a difficult group. They are more complete than the Austrians, but the latter are progressing. »
This draw is far from easy, but it seems affordable for a France team in great shape, and seemingly strengthened since its failure in the final of the 2022 World Cup. “It was difficult to do worse than at the Euro 2021”, quipped the Blues coach, in memory of the “group of death” – with Germany, Portugal, and Hungary – which the Blues had inherited during the previous edition.
“Have ambition, and above all humility”
The French will begin their competition on June 17 in Düsseldorf, against Austria. A familiar selection for the Blues, who faced it in June and September 2022, as part of the Nations League. These confrontations then saw Kylian Mbappé and his team dominate the 24th nation in the FIFA rankings, while having some difficulty getting around their defense.
A draw (1-1) and a victory (2-0), which left some memories for Guy Stéphan: “Austria is underrated, underlined the main assistant of the French team, present in Hamburg to represent the Blues. I'm thinking of [defenders] Kevin Danso, David Alaba or [in the middle] Marcel Sabitzer. You will have to be careful, have ambition, and above all humility. »
Components that seem applicable for the other two matches in the group stage of the competition, starting with the one scheduled for June 21 in Leipzig, against the Netherlands. “We know them very well,” warned Olivier Giroud, top scorer in the history of the Blues, on the broadcaster of the draw. I was dreading falling against them because they are never easy to play. »
A fear, shared by all the other seeded players, who hoped not to have to face the Oranje, a historic team on the continent and strong link in hat 3. The fact remains that the French beat them recently, twice (4-0 , and 2-1), during qualifying for said Euro.
Poland, most likely opponent
Among the potential opponents to complete the group, Poland seems to pose the most concerns. But the Eastern European country, led by FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, will first have to get rid of Estonia, then the winner between Wales and Finland, to hope to participate in its fifth European Nations Championship.
“If it’s Poland, it will make a nice little group,” Olivier Giroud always confided. I think they are a little stronger than Finland or Estonia on paper. » This last match, which is only mysterious about the opponent, will be held on June 25 in Dortmund, in the emblematic Westfalenstadion – now “named” Signal Iduna Park.
To hope to qualify for the final stages, the Blues will have to occupy one of the first two places in the group; or as a last resort, be part of the four best thirds, among the six other groups. A situation that Didier Deschamps, rather optimistic, does not envisage: “If luckily everything goes well, and we can manage a little in the third match, so much the better for us. »
Italy in the very tough group B
Among the other major European nations, the draw had very different fates. The German host, automatically transferred to Group A, will tackle a tricky group, made up of Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland.
A level, however, lower than Group B, where Spain, Croatia, Albania, and Italy – reigning European champion – will do battle. Conversely, Belgium, returned to group E, can consider the lucky draw, having to face Slovakia, Romania, and the winning country of path B of the play-offs (to be determined among Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine , Israel, and Iceland).
A little over six months before the start of Euro 2024, it is now time for preparations for all the teams, who will above all have to choose the most suitable base camp, depending on the location of their group matches. For the Blues, it should probably be located in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, where they will play two of their three matches, in Düsseldorf and Dortmund.
