All eyes will be on Stade de France when France and the Netherlands face each other in a highly-anticipated Euro 2024 qualifier. Our sportsbook offers the best markets and bonuses for top European competitions.
France: World-Class Squad
France came within touching distance of winning back-to-back World Cups in December, losing out to Argentina on penalties, with Les Bleus having one of the strongest squads in the world. They will kick off their European Championship qualifying campaign against the Netherlands, their likely closest rivals in the group. France has typically had the upper hand over these opponents and should be able to do so again here so we will include it in our soccer picks and parlays.
Defeat at the World Cup finals cost France the chance to join an elite group of countries that have successfully defended their title. We are sure that if Didier Deschamps had all of his top players available, like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and even Paul Pogba, this team would probably have won the trophy.
Deschamps, whose contract was due to expire after the 2022 World Cup, signed a contract extension to remain France’s national team manager until 2026.
France hasn’t played since the finals on Dec. 18. Yet, though the players are familiar with one another, with healthy chemistry, and looking good in their clubs, so that won’t be a problem for Deschamps. Mike Maignan will replace former captain Hugo Lloris in goal, but most of France’s key names have been called up.
Netherlands: New Manager
After Louis Van Gaal’s departure following their World Cup exit, the Netherlands turned to another man who had managed the team before, Ronald Koeman, to take over. However, Koeman’s recent managerial experiences leave a bit to be desired, and his side will certainly be in transition as they adapt to their new boss’s playing system.
The Netherlands had a solid run in the World Cup. They won seven points in the group with Qatar, Senegal, and Ecuador and qualified for the knockout phase as the best team from Group A but lost to World Cup champion Argentina in the quarter-finals.
The Netherlands enjoyed a superb season in the Nations League just before the World Cup, finishing first in Group 4 with Belgium, Poland, and Wales. By winning the group, it secured at least a playoff spot for EURO even if it fails to achieve it through the qualifiers. If you’re betting online, you should know it’s risky to back a team with a new manager, especially a national team.
Koeman has confirmed his plan to change the system to a traditional 4-3-3 in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, and that will begin in Paris. English Premier League stars Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Wout Weghorst, and Cody Gakpo are all expected to start on Friday.
France vs Netherlands Head-to-Head
France’s incredible home record has dipped in the last 12 months, with UEFA Nations League defeats against Denmark and Croatia last summer. However, France has won five of the last six head-to-heads against the Netherlands. Both teams have scored in five of France’s last seven matches. Five of France’s last seven matches have seen at least three goals.
France vs Netherlands Match Information
- Match: France (0-0-0) vs Netherlands (0-0-0)
- Day/Time: Friday, March 24th, 3:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Stade de France, Paris
- France vs Netherlands Live Stream: fubo.tv
France vs Netherlands Betting Lines
France vs Netherlands Picks and Prediction
The hosts enter this clash as favorites, priced at -120 on the three-way moneyline according to the latest soccer odds, while the goal line is set at 2½.
Fans hope to see a high-scoring affair due to superb offensive potential and an attacking mentality on both sides of the field. France has a class edge over the Netherlands and has won five of the last six meetings, so we expect it to kick off the qualifying campaign with a win. Kylian Mbappe has been France’s top scorer in the last 12 months, with 12 goals, and he will be confident of contributing to the scoresheet once again.
France is listed at -120 in our Vegas Soccer lines. This means that if you wager $100 on France, you have a chance to win $83. The Netherlands are +315, offering a chance to win $315 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives France a 54.55% chance to win, with the Netherlands at 24.10%.
