Euro 2024 - Group D Round-Up

Poland vs Netherlands

This game offered a lot more than I thought it would. Moving into this match, I assumed it would be completely one-sided with the Netherlands not knowing how to finish. Instead, the Netherlands started in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Playing with Dumfries and Ake on either side of the defensive line. A choice that I believed would be an error, leaving the likes of the Champions League runner-up Ian Maatsen, Europa League runner-up Jeremie Frimpong and recovery specialist, Micky Van De Ven who has had a stand-out season with Tottenham.

I believed including players such as these would play into the strengths of playing higher up the pitch, keeping possession, having wing backs pushing higher up the pitch having an overload in centre-midfield and rotating to create more chances for Depay and Gakpo. Instead, Ronald Koeman played a 4-2-3-1 with Gakpo and Depay switching from left-wing, with Ake playing as a left-back and looking excellent while doing so. Koeman made a few bold choices but perhaps the boldest choice was starting a 21-year-old goalkeeper. Verbruggen gave himself a good account with a 7.5 rating from the game, making 6 saves, making 76% pass accuracy and 47% of long balls attempted, finding the mark.

Poland started defensively and it will have been decided early on that they were going to counter-attack and play for set-pieces while playing in a well-structured 3-5-2, closing the door on most attacking options for the Netherlands. This resulted in a goal in the 16th minute for Poland from a corner from Adam Buksa. From what could only be described as a blunder from Dumfries who gave the centre-forward far too much space.

Shortly after the Netherlands had Poland under the cosh. Having 67% of possession in the first half and having 14 attempts on goal and a pass accuracy of 91%. Not only doing this but they also put up great defensive numbers winning 60% of ground duels and 73% of aerial duels. Completely outclassing Poland, having 134 touches in the opposition half compared to Poland only having 76 in their own half.

Following this dominating first-half performance, the Netherlands were able to make it level in the 29th minute from Cody Gakpo. Nathan Ake brought it up the left wing and played it to Gakpo on the edge of the box. Gakpo managed to get a shot away, but it took a deflection, sending Szczesny the wrong way. A lot of luck came from the attempt for it to go in, but they kept the pressure on and made the opportunities going into the second half at 1 – 1.

The second half told a different story. While the Netherlands still had 64% possession, they did little with the ball. Only generating 7 shots and only 1 of them was on target. In comparison, Poland only had 36% possession but managed to generate 1.13 expected goals, taking 8 shots and having 5 on target. The second-half performance seemed to all but bury the game. Until the 81st minute when Jeremie Frimpong and Wout Weghorst were subbed on. Making it so the Netherlands had a focal point. Nathan Ake made his way up the left wing again. Frimpong stayed out wide to create space on the right-hand side and Donyell Malen running to the back post. Ake played a ball across the 6-yard box, Bednarek managed to block but the ball fell to Weghorst who fired it in first time into the bottom corner. Sealing a 2 – 1 victory for the Netherlands.

Stand out performers: -

-            Nathan Ake

-            Wout Weghorst

-            Jakub Kiwior

-            Cody Gakpo

Austria vs France

This is the game that everyone has been waiting for. Everyone had been waiting and wanting to see if France could recreate the fine form that they have produced over the past few major tournaments, and it did not disappoint. Although a low-scoring game, finishing 1 – 0 to France. It offered plenty of drama and showed some insight into how France intends to play this tournament. Both teams lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Getting to see how the best international tournament player (Mbappe) now goes up against a team that many consider massive underdogs.  

Whilst acknowledging France's attacking ability, I was more impressed at the defensive performance by them. On paper, France has one of the best teams that you could put together, but on paper and playing together are very different things. A starting line-up of Theo Hernandez at left back who has had a great season all things considered at AC Milan, Saliba who is only 23 years old and has had an excellent season at Arsenal, Upamecano from Bayern Munich who may have had an underwhelming season but from an individual sense has been quite consistent and Jules Kounde from Barcelona playing at right-back with Maignan in goal. Playing with this back line and having Ngolo Kante and Rabiot in front of them, they seemed impenetrable. Reducing Austria to only having 6 shots in total all game although having 52% possession and completing 401 passes all game. The attacking side of France must be mentioned too. Even though having less possession, France managed to have 14 shots and produced an expected goals rating of 2.13 and just looked destined to score. Even through some of the more difficult periods, France looked like they could snatch a goal at any point.

Overall, it seemed like it was going to be a game that would be won in the midfield with the likes of Ngolo Kante, Thuram, Seiwald and Sabitzer all playing key parts throughout the game. So, a special mention has to go to them. A final point that has to be noted is Killian Mbappe’s injury. It was a clear broken nose, and one has to wonder if that will be a mental factor going forward in the tournament. Although he will be wearing a face mask, it does not offer the protection you would like after so recently breaking a nose.

Stand-out Performers: -

-            Ngolo Kante

-            Killian Mbappe

-            Marcus Thuram

-            Stefan Posch