France will be looking to maintain their 100% record in Group B, and qualify for Euro 2024 as they travel to the Netherlands. Ronald Koeman’s outfit still harbour ambitions of topping the group, but they will need a win here to keep pace with the 2018 World Cup winners. Below I’ve taken a look at the market ahead of this blockbuster encounter.

Team News

Premier League trio Micky Van de Ven, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake will likely line-up in Koeman’s back three for this one, while they are also joined by Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen. Wout Weghorst, now of Hoffenheim is also included in the squad, while there is a lot of excitement surrounding Xavi Simons of RB Leipzig. 

Olivier Giroud is included in the French squad as a forward, despite his spell in goal for AC Milan last week. In total, five players plying their trade in the Italian city are included, with Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard and Marcus Thuram all involved. PSG’s attacking trio Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani are also all likely to feature. 

France to win to nil @ 11/4 

This is a meeting of two of Europe’s best sides, and their recent form suggests this is going to be a close match-up. However, since losing the World Cup final, France have won five from five and haven’t conceded a single goal. This is the toughest test they will face in this qualification group, but Didier Deschamps’ team have proved time and time again they are one of the finest teams in the world, and not much has changed over the past five years. 

Remember they only missed out on back-to-back World Cups via a penalty shootout and they know how to navigate getting to, and winning major tournaments. Their defence has been rock solid during this campaign and even up against the Dutch, I’m happy to back them to keep another clean sheet. 11/4 on France to win to nil, in a game they can dominate, feels like a sensible choice. 

Correct score: Netherlands 0-2 France @ 10/1

The last time these two met, on matchday one, the French gave the Netherlands a footballing lesson in a 4-0 win. Interestingly, the home side were happy to let Koeman’s side have most of the ball, a tactic they may employ again, before striking with pace on the break. 

Kylian Mbappe’s runs from deep are impossible to stop when given the room to run and although we should see an improvement on that performance from the Netherlands, they are likely to come up well short again. A 2-0 away win, priced up at 10/1 feels like the right way to go here. 

France have a superb back line that has been able to cope with everything thrown at them so far. Now in their biggest test, they can book their place at Euro 2024 in style.