European Championship 2024 Group D Preview
Group D of the Euro Championship 2024, dubbed the “Group of Death,” features France, The Netherlands, Poland, and Austria. The group is led by the 2022 World Cup finalists France, who have one of the best squads in international football. The Dutch bring their own world-class players, including Virgil van Dijk, who has played a critical role in Liverpool's reemergence this past decade.
Poland still possesses one of the best strikers of the current generation in Robert Lewandowski, and while the Polish may not have a lot of star power, they can line up a decent squad. Austria are the underdog of this group, and while many will be writing them off, they will be eager to defy expectations and strive to leave their mark on the European Championships.
France
Most football fans would place France in their top three favourites for this tournament, given their impressive squad and recent performances since their World Cup win in 2018. The French had to deal with disappointment in Euro 2020, but they will be back with a vengeance now, hoping to learn from their past mistakes.
Their qualification campaign was nearly flawless and showed just how good they can be, with many football pundits commenting on their squad's strength. Les Bleus have their sights set on redeeming themselves as Europe’s most elite footballing nation by lifting the trophy for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
Netherlands
The Netherlands, led by head coach Ronald Koeman, heads into Euro Championship 2024 after securing the second spot in the same qualifying group as France with six wins out of eight matches. They had a tough time against France in Group B, but they will not let that hold them back again on the main stage.
While they may not be the outright favourites, the Dutch team, featuring key players like Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum, alongside rising stars like Cody Gakpo, show they are no team to be taken lightly, even by this great French side. It's a chance for the new Dutch generation to showcase their talent on the European stage and make their nation proud.
Poland
Poland's journey to the European Championship of 2024 has been challenging, but they've made it to the big stage after finishing third in their group behind Albania and the Czech Republic. To secure qualification they ended up beating Wales on penalties.
With Lewandowski, Kamil Grosicki, and Wojciech Szczęsny in their ranks, Poland has experienced players. However, there are still doubts over their ability to deliver when it matters most. Nonetheless, Poland will undoubtedly be determined to show the world what they are capable of achieving, but it won't be easy, especially in a group with such strong teams.
Austria
After a strong qualifying performance, Austria finished runners-up to a strong Belgium side. If Austria manages to survive this group, it will be a significant achievement, as they have yet to progress past the group stage in a major tournament since 1982.
However, evaluating this Austrian side is a bit tricky. They may lack the flashy star power of some teams, but they have a tight-knit group of players who understand their roles perfectly. Although lifting a major international trophy might be a distant dream, Austria are aiming to make their presence felt in Euro Championship 2024 by making it as far as possible.
Biggest Game/Deciding Game
The biggest game in Group D will likely be the clash between Poland and the Netherlands, which is expected to be the second-place decider. Fans will eagerly watch to see if Poland can upset the odds or if the Netherlands can secure their expected direct qualification to the round of 16.
Influential Players
- Kylian Mbappé: The French superstar has become the face of French football and is considered one of the best players in the world. This will be his last tournament before leaving PSG.
Mbappe rose to prominence at just 16 years old after making his professional debut for AS Monaco and has been on fire for club and country ever since. He will be captaining the French side for the first time in a major tournament and hopes to continue their era of great success under his leadership.
His impeccable dribbling skills, speed, and finishing have earned him praise worldwide, and he has many individual awards to show for it, including the Ligue 1 Player of the Year Awards, the Golden Boy, and the Kopa Trophy.
- Robert Lewandowski: The FC Barcelona striker continues to be at the top of his game, even in his mid-30s. Renowned for his scoring ability and tireless work ethic, Lewandowski has earned his place among football's elite with many honours, including the FIFA Best Men's Player Award and the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award. Internationally, Lewandowski has been a stalwart for Poland, earning 148 caps and becoming the nation's all-time leading goal scorer with 82 goals.
- Virgil van Dijk: This beast of a defender is considered by many to be one of the premier central defenders in modern football. Van Dijk, who is the captain of both Liverpool in the Premier League and the Netherlands national team, is known for his impeccable one-on-one defending skills and commanding presence as a leader on the field.
His remarkable achievements include being named the PFA Players' Player of the Year, being the first defender to win the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, and leading the Netherlands national team to the final of the UEFA Nations League.
Possible Final Standings
In Group D of the Euro Championship 2024, this French team are expected to come out on top with its star-filled lineup, while the Netherlands, considering its recent performance, is likely to follow in second place. Poland will put up a strong fight and try hard but will likely finish in third place. Unfortunately for Austria, despite their recent efforts, they are expected to struggle the most and end up at the bottom of the group.
1. France
2. Netherlands
3. Poland
4. The Netherlands
List of other Groups Participating in The European Championship of 2024: