(France vs Netherlands) The French national team has shown its dominance in recent encounters with the Dutch national team, but everything could change completely as both teams aim for three points in their Euro 2024 group stage match.
Both France and the Netherlands are perennial contenders in major tournaments, evident from their respective opening victories at Euro 2024. This sets up an intriguing clash in the second round not only to secure advancement to the next stage but also for the honor of being top contenders in Europe.
In their last 5 meetings, France has asserted dominance with 4 wins and just 1 loss against their opponents. This is a significant advantage for Les Bleus heading into the upcoming match, although it’s challenging to predict an easy game for Deschamps’ squad against the Netherlands, especially after the Dutch’s emotional victory over Poland.
To provide a comprehensive overview, here is the recent history of their last 5 encounters:
October 14, 2023: Netherlands 1-2 France (Euro 2024 qualifiers)
Despite being the away team at the Johan Cruijff Arena, France displayed their formidable strength by controlling much of the game. Kylian Mbappe was the hero for Les Bleus, scoring both goals in the 7th and 53rd minutes. Netherlands managed a late goal through Quilindschy Hartman in the 83rd minute but it wasn’t enough to salvage a result as they suffered a 1-2 defeat at home.
March 25, 2023: France 4-0 Netherlands (Euro 2024 qualifiers)
In this match, France quickly asserted dominance with goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dayot Upamecano within the first 10 minutes. The game was effectively over by halftime, and Netherlands couldn’t recover as Kylian Mbappe added two more goals to seal a resounding 4-0 victory.
November 16, 2018: Netherlands 2-0 France (UEFA Nations League)
In this highly spirited match, the Netherlands performed exceptionally well against the reigning World Cup champions. The Dutch created numerous chances and took the lead with a goal in the 44th minute.
France tried to mount a comeback but faced difficulties breaking through the sturdy Dutch defense. In the dying moments of the game, Memphis Depay scored from a penalty kick to secure a 2-0 victory for the Netherlands.
September 9, 2018: France 2-1 Netherlands (UEFA Nations League)
In this encounter, France quickly took the lead with Mbappe scoring in the 14th minute assisted by Blaise Matuidi.
Despite creating several attacking opportunities afterward, Les Bleus were unexpectedly equalized by Ryan Babel for the Netherlands in the 67th minute. However, it didn’t take long for order to be restored as Olivier Giroud once again helped France regain the lead, ensuring a 2-1 victory.
August 31, 2017: France 4-0 Netherlands (2018 World Cup qualifiers)
Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring for France in the 14th minute. Despite creating many chances, it wasn’t until the second half that Les Bleus celebrated more goals.
In the 73rd minute, Thomas Lemar doubled the lead, and then Thomas Lemar and Kylian Mbappe added their names to the scoresheet, concluding the match with a convincing 4-0 win.
While historical trends favor France in the upcoming match, considering both teams’ performances in the Euro 2024 opener, it’s certain that this encounter won’t be as straightforward as previous ones. The “Oranje” are ready to challenge Mbappe and his teammates, aiming to establish their position in this tournament.