Euro 2024 Group D Preview

Hiya, LOBers, I'm back with another Euro 2024 Group Stage Preview, this time focusing on Group D, which promises to be another very competitive group. Prospects: As with Group B, Group D features two traditional powers in European football: France and the Netherlands. These two teams will know each other well, having already battled it out in the qualifying stages. Didier Deschamps' side had the edge then and should have again in this tournament. France had the stingiest defense then and of course possess the ultimate X Factor in Kylian Mbappe who has just completed a move from PSG to Real. Ronald Koeman's Dutch limp into this tournament riddled with injury concerns from goalkeeper Justin Bijlow to key midfield cog Frenkie de Jong to striker Memphis Depay. Ralf Rangnik's Austrian side impressed in qualifying, coming second to Belgium in their group, but recently lost talismanic leader David Alaba to injury. Perennial Euro qualiiers Poland may well be a dark horse side this summer. Striker Robert Lewandowski may be past his best at this point but he's still Robert Lewandowski. One to Watch: In the absence of De Jong, Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. who just completed a spectacular season with AC Milan, will likely shoulder the burden for his side. Most Likely to see Red: Polish central defender Jan Bednarak spent a long season learning the Championship dark arts with Southampton this season. Key Match - France v. Netherlands - June 21, 3pm - This could easily end up a highly-tactical borefest, but any time these two teams face up against each other, you have to watch. Blue Devil's Crystal Ball Says: France are one of the favorites to win this tournament - and for good reason. Their squad is dripping with quality. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Netherlands struggle in the group stages and are edged out of second by Poland, still qualifying for the R16 as one of the best third-place teams. Manchester United fans will enjoy seeing Ralf Rangnik being humiliated.