FAVOURITES France start their Euro 2024 campaign with a huge clash against Austria – and the drama will unfold TONIGHT!
Les Blues will be hoping to improve on their efforts in the previous tournament.
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France were knocked out in the round of 16 by Switzerland on penalties despite leading the match 3-1.
The Swiss scored two goals in the final ten minutes to tie the match and force penalties.
France also suffered heartbreak in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
They lost in the final to Argentina again following a penalty shootout.
Coach Didier Deschamps‘ side come into the competition as hot favourites due to the abundant quality in the squad.
The team eased through qualification and have been boosted by the return of N’Golo Kante to the squad.
However, Raphael Varane will not be playing part following his retirement from international football.
The match against against Austria will not be straightforward.
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Former Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has got the Austrians playing some brilliant football.
The team is unbeaten in their last seven games, a run that includes wins over Germany and Turkey.
France, on the other hand, has not lost since September and has won six of their last eight matches.
France will be without Lucas Hernandez who picked up a knee injury before the tournament
Kingsley Coman is a doubt after suffering from illness during the week.
Austria will not have star David Alaba as he picked up a knee injury during the season.
Midfielder Xaver Schlager will also miss the match due to injury.
FORMER Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has transformed Austria since taking the job two years ago.
But they face a tough task to get out of a group containing France, Holland and Poland.
MANAGER: Ralf Rangnick
Played for Southwick in the Sussex County League and ended up managing Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford.
STAR MAN: Christoph Baumgartner
The RB Leipzig midfielder has excelled under Rangnick and scored the quickest goal in international history after six seconds against Slovakia in March.
How Austria attack
Austria are one of the most interesting tactical teams at the tournament.
They will play aggressively and take risks in possession, rotating the midfielders and also playing longer passes to the target man/
How Austria defend
Austria will play Rangnick’s trademark aggressive gegenpressing style as they look to win the ball high up the pitch.
However, they will also set traps and encourage the opposition to use the ball in central areas before surrounding them.
Read the full Austria Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups and latest odds
Kylian Mbappe has insisted that he is keen to complete an international hat-trick of tournament wins with France.
He told CNN Sport: “I want to win the Euros. I have to be honest. I won the World Cup. I won the Nations League.
“That’s the only one that missed me with the national team after I did everything with the national team. I really want to win this.
“My first competition as captain, so it’s really important for me and it’s always important for the country and we want them to be proud of us.
“[It’s] another opportunity to write the history of my country.”
Austria coach Rangnick is aware of the challenge his side faces when coming up against France.
He said: “With France we might have the strongest opponents of all right at the start [of the tournament].
“They are the absolute favourites for the title, not only at this EURO, but also in two years at the World Cup.
“France surely must be the nation with the highest quality.
“Even if the starting XI are injured, the 11 substitutes are not much weaker.
“So the first match will be a huge challenge.”
France 3-1 Austria
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Enhance your experience of the Euros further by playing our other games: Bracket Challenge and Score Predictor.
FRANCE are the one nation all England fans are truly afraid of.
They are many punters’ favourites after knocking the Three Lions out of the 2022 World Cup and will be hoping to do much better than at Euro 2020, when they lost to Switzerland in the last 16.
MANAGER: Didier Deschamps
Coming up to 12 years in the job, the only thing missing from his CV is a European Championship.
STAR MAN: Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe’s PSG may have underachieved on the European stage but he remains France’s most deadly threat, with a World Cup trophy and a World Cup final hat-trick to his name.
How France attack
Expect to see France play in a fluid 4-3-3 – which becomes 4-2-3-1 in possession – throughout the tournament.
Giroud acts as the focal point in the attack with the two wide players and Griezmann as No 10 supporting.
How France defend
We can expect to see France defend high with an emphasis on winning back possession as far up the pitch as possible.
France will stagger their defensive shape when the opposition are in possession.
Read the full France Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags.
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication.
