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RotoBaller's Euro 2024 coverage continues with a Group D preview of France, Netherlands, Austria and Poland. Odds, Predictions, and Players to Watch.
Happy Euro 2024, RotoBallers! The tournament is just a couple of weeks away, and soccer fans are ready to witness the top nations in Europe battle it out for a spot in the finals at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. Elite football stars from around the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and many more, will represent their nations when the contest starts on June 14, 2024.
After a three-year break, Euro 2024 coverage is back on Rotoballer. Our dedicated team is ready to bring you comprehensive coverage, from Group Previews to the fantasy game and the day-to-day action of DFS during the tournament.
Take advantage of our extensive Euro 2024 coverage. This is just one of our six group previews. You can access the other five previews and the rest of our Euro 2024 coverage here on Rotoballer.
Overview: Group D
France and the Netherlands will surely move into the Knockout Stage, barring any major upset in Group Play. Austria and Poland have fared better internationally as of late; however, neither has the firepower to contend with France and the Netherlands. This is France’s eleventh trip to the Euros, and their most recent trip ended in heartbreak in the Round of 16. Les Bleus has two titles and a runners-up. The Netherlands takes a well-rounded squad to every international tournament. However, they never piece it all together. In ten appearances, they have one title and one third-place finish.
Next up is Austria, playing in just their fourth-ever appearance at the Euros, only ever making it to the Knockout Stage once. In 2020, they were knocked out by the eventual champions, Italy, after extra time. Last is Poland, and quite literally. Despite the country having success in other competitions, it took them 12 years – beating out Ukraine as one of the last two major UEFA member states to never qualify – to qualify for their first-ever Euros, and since then, they have appeared four times. In those four times, they only made it to the knockout stage once, losing in the quarter-finals to France in 2016. France is the clear-cut Group D winner, with second place up in the air. Can Austria or Poland upset the Netherlands and make the Knockout Round for the second time ever?
Schedule
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Date | Time (EDT) |
| Poland | Netherlands | Jun. 16 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Austria | France | Jun. 17 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Poland | Austria | Jun. 21 | 5:00 a.m. |
| Netherlands | France | Jun. 21 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Netherlands | Austria | Jun. 25 | 5:00 p.m. |
| France | Poland | Jun. 25 | 5:00 p.m. |
France
Bettings Odds (Bet365)
Win Group: -188
Advance: -2000
Win Euro 2024: +350
Player to Watch: Kylian Mbappe - Forward, Real Madrid
With many stars scattered throughout the French lineup, there is one glaring option, and that is Kylian Mbappe. Currently, Mbappe is completing an ongoing saga between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, with the player finally moving to the La Liga giants. Solely looking at the striker’s international history, he has 46 goals and 31 assists in 77 total appearances between Friendlies, UEFA Nations League, World Cup, European Qualifiers, World Cup Qualifiers, and the Euros. However, despite registering 46 goals in his 77 appearances, he has yet to score at the Euros, leaving him goalless at the tournament. Can Mbappe help carry France to their third Euro title and showcase to his new Madrid fans what he will bring to the Bernabeu in the fall?
Prediction: Win Group; Win Finals
After making a historic comeback in the 2022 World Cup Finals, only to lose in penalties was a massive heartbreak for French fans while the rest of the world rejoiced, watching Lionel Messi of Argentina finally win a World Cup. France is expected to be coming into 2024’s rendition of the Euros hungry with expectations of a title or nothing. Group D will be a breeze for them to coast through; however, depending on Group Play results, their path to a third Euro title could get bumpy.
Kylian Mbappe is a one-man counterattack 🏃♂️💨💨💨💨💨
(via @ESbeINSPORTS) pic.twitter.com/RapOz55fVW
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 4, 2020
Netherlands
Bettings Odds (Bet365)
Win Group: +275
Advance: -500
Win Euro 2024: +1600
Player to Watch: Xavi Simons - Midfielder, RB Leipzig
This could be his time. After only seeing a handful of starts at the international stage, despite having productive seasons for PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig over the past few years, Simons is getting his chance at the biggest stage. Over the past domestic season with RB Leipzig, in 43 total appearances, Simons managed 10 goals and 15 assists, with most of his play as a right-wing/right-midfielder. He is expected to play a similar position for the Oranje, supplying central striker Memphis Depay. With zero points in 13 appearances at the international stage, the time is now for Simons to announce himself as a clear starter for the Netherlands moving forward.
Prediction: Advance; Losing in the Quarterfinals
Winning Group D is a tall order for a Dutch side that has only won two out of ten total matches against Les Bleus. However, matching up against both Austria and Poland seems like a probable feat. Can the Oranje put their history with an expected matchup against Portugal in the Quarterfinals behind them, or will they drop a ninth match to the Seleção das Quinas?
Bundesliga, Youtube 2023/2024 Season
— Bundesliga (@Bundesliga) September 4, 2023
Austria
Bettings Odds (Bet365)
Win Group: +800
Advance: -110
Win Euro 2024: +8000
Player to Watch: Nicolas Seiwald - Midfielder, RB Leipzig
Yet another RB Leipzig player features as a Player To Watch, with midfielder Nicolas Seiwald the next up. Seiwald, a former product of Red Bull Salzburg of the Bundesliga – Austria –, made his way to RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window, filling a massive gap in the midfield. He immediately made an impact, playing a catalyst role, linking both the defense and the offense. This is a role that Seiwald will also take over with Austria. He will not produce many points; however, he can certainly shut down plays and lead a quick counter-attack.
Prediction - Eliminated in Group Stage, barring a third-place Knockout Stage berth
Austria is a much stronger club than most will think. Especially when considering their victories over Italy and Germany in the Nations League and Euro Qualifiers respectively. They do not dominate teams on a score sheet. However, they do win comfortably while playing a sound defense. Dating back to September 25, 2022, Austria has only conceded more than two goals twice. The first match was a 3-1 loss to Croatia in the Nations League and their second match against Belgium in Euro Qualifiers, 3-2. Unless they can succeed on quick counter-attacks and hold firm on the line, they will be swept away by France and the Netherlands’ quick, pacey play style.
Poland
Bettings Odds (Bet365)
Win Group: +1000
Advance: +125
Win Euro 2024: +15000
Player to Watch: Karol Świderski - Forward, Verona
In Poland’s version of a ‘Player to Watch’, it is more or less can this player fill the shoes of a ‘Great’ and that player is Karol Świderski. Swiderski has floated between PAOK of the Super League 1, Charlotte FC of the MLS and more recently, Verona of the Serie A. In all three leagues, the striker has had one common denominator: his lack of scoring, especially in his first season with Verona, where he managed two goals in 15 appearances. As things currently stand, Świderski is next in line to lead Poland’s attack once their all-time goal-scoring leader, Robert Lewandowski, retires from the international stage. If Swiderski continues to struggle in front of the net, Poland’s future is dire. If Poland – who may run a two-striker formation – is to make it out of Group Stage play, they will need Świderski to relieve some of the scoring pressure.
Prediction - Eliminated in the Group Stage
Despite a squad full of capable players, Poland will not have what it takes to secure a berth into the Knockout Stage with losing records against both France and the Netherlands and a much improved Austria in the group. Can Robert Lewandowski carry the Biało-sherwani, or will he potentially play the final international matches of his career?
Join Our League
Once again, join our Rotoballer.com fantasy league. Hit any of our writers up over the next two weeks, and we will give you the code (also in the graphic below), and you'll be good to go. Good luck for UEFA Euro 2024 Fantasy, RotoBallers!
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