France’s forward Kylian Mbappe was seen wearing a face mask during a training session in Leipzig ahead of their UEFA Euro 2024 Group D match against the Netherlands. The buildup to the match has been dominated by speculation about Mbappe’s potential participation after he broke his nose in the opening match against Austria. France and the Netherlands will clash in their second group stage match, with France having won seven of their last eight meetings against the Dutch.
Mbappe’s potential participation in the match is a major talking point, as the France captain will need to wear a mask if he does play. Despite his prolific goal-scoring record for France, Mbappe is yet to score in a European Championship tournament. Both France and the Netherlands are level on three points in Group D, with the Dutch coming from behind to beat Poland and France narrowly defeating Austria with an own goal.
The Netherlands will be looking to avenge their qualifying defeats against France, with the French securing a 4-0 win at home and a 2-1 victory away. Dutch forward Xavi Simons, who played on loan at Leipzig last season, will be a key player to watch in the match. The Netherlands, led by current coach Ronald Koeman, won Euro ’88 with a star-studded lineup that included Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, and Frank Rijkaard.
France, on the other hand, won Euro ’84 and Euro 2000, with Didier Deschamps captaining the team to victory. Deschamps, now the coach of the French national team, led France to a World Cup title in 2018. The match between France and the Netherlands promises to be an intense battle, with both teams aiming to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the tournament.
In terms of team news, Deschamps is optimistic about Mbappe’s availability for the match, while the Netherlands will be without midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners due to injuries. France has historically had the upper hand in meetings with the Netherlands, winning 15 of their 30 previous encounters. However, the Dutch have scored more goals in those matches, with 57 to France’s 53.
Overall, the match between France and the Netherlands is set to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to secure a vital victory in the group stage of the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament. With Mbappe’s potential return from injury and the Netherlands’ attacking prowess, fans can expect an exciting and closely contested match between two European football powerhouses.
