Group D predictions: France look a formidable force

There is no element of surprise about France, whose squad is packed with household names led by a coach, Didier Deschamps, who has been in the job since 2012.

However, that does not mean Les Bleus will be any easier to beat as they target a first European Championship triumph since 2000.

The 2018 World Cup winners came agonisingly close to a successful defence of the trophy in 2022, losing on penalties to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the final.

France's Euro 2020 campaign also ended in a shootout defeat after a 3-3 draw as Les Bleus inexplicably let slip a 3-1 lead in the last ten minutes against Switzerland in the round of 16.

They showed no such vulnerability in Euro 2024 qualifying, taking 22 points from a possible 24 and claiming a national-record 14-0 win over ten-man Gibraltar.

That rout has little relevance for punters assessing France's chances of lifting the trophy in Germany but their 4-0 and 2-1 wins over the Netherlands, who also line up in Group D at the finals, may be more significant.

The Dutch, also beaten on penalties by Argentina at the World Cup, won their other six qualifiers against Greece, the Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar but it is hard to see them turning the tables on France.

The Netherlands were 3-0 down inside 21 minutes against Les Bleus in Paris in March 2023 and lost 4-2 to Croatia and 3-2 to Italy at last summer's Nations League Finals.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt and Manchester City's Nathan Ake are excellent defensive options and Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong and Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons had terrific Bundesliga campaigns.

But, while France have Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and record goalscorer Olivier Giroud in their squad, Dutch coach Ronald Koeman's has a less formidable group of forwards.

Memphis Depay, so often the Oranje's key attacking threat, has struggled with form and fitness at Atletico Madrid, starting only a handful of games in La Liga, and the Netherlands needed a late brace from inconsistent target-man Wout Weghorst to take their World Cup knockout tie against Argentina to extra-time.

They had not lost in 90 minutes in 20 internationals before the 4-0 qualifying defeat to France and can generally be relied upon to beat the teams they should be beating.

Group rivals Austria, missing injured captain David Alaba, and Poland fall into that category so the France/Netherlands straight forecast looks a solid bet.

The Poles are unlikely to improve their disappointing recent record at major tournaments. They did not muster a shot on target in 120 minutes against Wales in the playoff final before winning on penalties and had taken just 11 points from eight qualifiers against Albania, Czech Republic, Moldova and the Faroe Islands.

Ralf Rangnick's Austria finished one point behind Group F winners Belgium in qualifying and, having booked their place at the finals, they scored ten goals in friendly victories over ten-man Germany, Slovakia and Turkey.

Euro 2020 winners Italy needed extra-time to get past Austria in the round of 16 but they had been beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands in the group stage and could come up short against the Dutch and France this time around.