On June 18 at 3 a.m., France will face Austria in the first round of Group D matches in the 2024 UEFA European Championship. As one of the favorites to win the title, “Les Blues” of France will be looking to start with a victory. The tactical battle between French manager Didier Deschamps and Austria’s Ralf Rangnick is also a major aspect to watch in this encounter.
France currently ranks second in the world, only behind Argentina, and is the top-ranked European team. In this Euro, their squad value is second only to England’s. In 2024, France has had mixed results, with a 0-2 loss to Germany, a 3-2 win over Chile, a 3-0 victory against Luxembourg, and a goalless draw with Canada in friendly matches. In recent years, France has been one of the most successful teams in major tournaments, finishing as runners-up in Euro 2016, winning the 2018 World Cup, and securing another runner-up spot in the 2022 World Cup. However, they were eliminated early in the 2020 Euros. Heading into this edition, France is eager to prove themselves.
Boasting an array of stars like Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembele, France has depth despite some injuries. Reports suggest that the starting lineup against Austria could feature goalkeeper Mike Maignan, defenders Theo Hernandez, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, and Jules Kounde, midfielders N’Golo Kante, Griezmann, and Adrien Rabiot, and forwards Mbappe, Tanguy Nianzou, and Dembele. Mbappe failed to score in four appearances during the previous Euros, and fans are eagerly awaiting his first Euros goal. Deschamps commented on the opening match, stating, “The first game is important, but it’s not decisive. Starting the journey with a win is always better. I know what we need to do, and we are confident about the future.”
In the past two Euros, France has won its opening matches, defeating Romania 2-1 in 2016 and Germany 1-0 in 2020. They have also remained unbeaten in group stages in both those tournaments, securing two wins and one draw in 2016 and one win and two draws in 2020.
Austria, ranked 25th, presents a formidable challenge. During the qualifiers, they showcased strong form, finishing second in their group with six wins, one draw, and one loss. Managed by Rangnick and playing a 4-2-3-1 system, they prioritize balance. In 2024, Austria has enjoyed a 3-1 record in friendly matches, demonstrating good form. However, key players like defensive lynchpin David Alaba and midfielder Konrad Laimer are unavailable due to injuries, which will significantly impact Rangnick’s tactical setup. Historically, Austria has a 1-1-3 record against France in their last five encounters.
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