Group D at UEFA Euro 2024 kicks off on Sunday with Poland taking on the Netherlands in Hamburg. The group presents a thrilling mix of teams, with the most note-worthy of those being World Cup finalists France, who begin their campaign against Austria on Monday.
The French stand out as the favorites, boasting a squad brimming with world-class talent. Under Didier Deschamps, they've shown a blend of attacking flair and defensive solidity, making them the team to beat. The Netherlands, adorned with a blend of experienced stars and vibrant young talents, eyes a significant tournament impact under Ronald Koeman.
Austria, under Ralf Rangnick's tactical guidance, brings discipline and cohesion. Building on their round-of-16 achievement in Euro 2020, they aim to make a deeper run, leveraging their squad’s experience from Europe’s top leagues. Poland, entering through a nail-biting playoff victory, carries the underdog spirit, aiming to surpass their previous best of reaching the quarter-finals in 2016.
Country: Austria
Manager: Ralf Rangnick
Captain: Marcel Sabitzer
Player to watch: Patrick Wimmer
Best Euros performance: Round of 16 (2020)
Fixtures
Monday, 17 June: France, (Dusseldorf), 8pm
Friday, 21 June: Poland, (Berlin), 5pm
Tuesday, 25 June: Netherlands, (Berlin), 5pm
Austria booked their place at Euro 2024 with victory over Azerbaijan on 16 October to ensure they advanced from Group F with Belgium. It is a now their third successive Euros and their fourth in total having co-hosted the 2008 competition with neighbours Switzerland.
The experienced Ralf Rangnick takes charge of Austria this summer. Having previously enjoyed spells at a number of high-profile German Bundesliga sides such as Stuttgart, Schalke and Leipzig, Rangnick was also interim coach at English Premier League team Manchester United for five months between December 2021 and May 2022, before taking the Austria job that summer.
While the squad features a number of Bundesliga stars such as Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer, and Christoph Baumgartner, it's Patrick Wimmer who might be the surprise package of Euro 2024. Known for his flair and pace, Wimmer’s ability to create moments of magic could prove crucial for Austria. His performances for Wolfsburg have highlighted his potential to shine on the larger stage, bringing both creativity and unpredictability to Austria’s attack.
Former Stoke City and West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic continues to contribute significantly, leveraging his experience to guide the younger players. Michael Gregoritsch provides an aerial threat, and his combination play with Arnautovic could be key to unlocking opposition defences.
However, injuries pose a significant challenge. Skipper David Alaba's absence due to an ACL injury is a major blow given his leadership and versatility but the Real Madrid star will travel to Germany with the squad and act as a "non-playing captain". Other key players like Alexander Schlager and Xaver Schlager also face spells on the sidelines due to similar injuries, which further limit Rangnick's options.
Country: France
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Captain: Kylian Mbappe
Player to watch: Antoine Griezmann
Best Euros performance: Winner x2 (1984 and 2000)
Fixtures
Monday, 17 June: Austria, (Dusseldorf), 8pm
Friday, 21 June: Netherlands, (Leipzig), 8pm
Tuesday, 25 June: Poland, (Dortmund), 5pm
France is one of the most successful nations at the European Championships, having won two titles in 1984 and 2000, and finishing as runners-up in 2016. Under the guidance of manager Didier Deschamps, France is not merely participating but is primed to dominate at Euro 2024. With a blend of serial winners and exciting young talent, they are a squad fully capable of conquering Europe once more.
Since his appointment in 2012, Didier Deschamps has revitalised French football. He's steered France to a World Cup victory in 2018 and to the final in 2022. His managerial flexibility has seen the team shift formations and tactics seamlessly, echoing his deep understanding of the game.
France's robust qualification campaign, where they scored 29 goals and conceded just three, highlights their attacking prowess and defensive solidity. Their experienced players, many of whom have World Cup finals under their belts, bring a psychological advantage, particularly in high-stakes matches. This blend of youth and experience is perfectly suited to the rigours and pressures of a tournament like Euro 2024.
Kylian Mbappe remains the centrepiece of France's attack after securing his long awaited move to Real Madrid this summer. His electric pace, clinical finishing, and ability to turn games single-handedly make him a serious threat to any defence. Mbappe’s influence at Euro 2024 could very well mirror his stellar performances in the qualifiers, having finished third top scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku with nine goals in eight matches.
New players to the squad such as Mike Maignan and Bradley Barcola are set to play pivotal roles. Maignan, stepping out from Hugo Lloris' shadow, is expected to start as France’s main goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Barcola, after a brilliant first season at PSG, looks set to shine on the European stage.
Despite their strengths, France will have to manage injury concerns surrounding star players like Kingsley Coman and Maignan. Ensuring they are match-fit will be crucial to their push for gory this summer.
Furthermore, maintaining peak form, especially for players like Mbappe, who has seen limited action in some late-season games, will be crucial. Deschamps' ability to manage his squad’s fitness and morale could be as significant as his tactical setup.
Country: Netherlands
Manager: Ronald Koeman
Captain: Virgil van Dijk
Player to watch: Jeremie Frimpong
Best Euros performance: Winners (1988)
Fixtures
Sunday, 16 June: Poland, (Hamburg), 2pm
Friday, 21 June: France, (Leipzig), 8pm
Tuesday, 25 June: Austria, (Berlin), 5pm
The Dutch are set to appear in their 11th European Championships, having booked their place at Euro 2024 with a 1-0 home win against the Republic of Ireland in November of last year. Having not won the tilte since 1988, they will be hungry for glory in Germany this summer.
Ronald Koeman is in his second spell as coach having won the tournament as a player in 1988. He also guided the Oranje to the 2019 UEFA Nations League final and third place in the same competition in summer 2023.
Captain Virgil van Dijk remains a crucial player for club and country. The Liverpool star remains an elite defender whose positioning and aerial ability will make it difficult for any attack to bypass him and his defensive partners in Germany this summer. His passing ability from the back will also be crucial to the Dutch style of play where he rarely if ever puts a pass wrong. He’s sure to add to his 68 caps in the summer and may even add to his nine goals.
In midfield, Xavi Simons' excellent development over the last two seasons has made him a firm part of Koeman’s plans. Memphis Depay, despite an up-and-down couple of seasons, will lead the attack and trails only Robin van Persie for goals for the Oranje.
If Koeman is brave, he will utlisise arguably one of the most dynamic players at the tournament in Jeremie Frimpong who, if afforded the opportunity, could use his devastating pace and elite dribbling to add a real outlet for the Dutch even if he has only been capped by the senior side twice so far. Frimpong enters the tournament off the back of a brilliant season in Germany. Guided by the managerial brilliance of Xabi Alonso, whose Bayern Leverkusen team ran out unbeaten champions of the Bundesliga and claimed the German Cup, while just missing out on the treble after losing to Atalanta in the Europa League Final at the Aviva Stadium.
However, while it’s his attacking qualities which will gather the majority of the attention, Frimpong is a competent defender with a strong work ethic to defend when needed. His comfortability in possession and passing ability will also make him an option to link up with his teammates.
Country: Poland
Manager: Michal Probierz
Captain: Robert Lewandowski
Player to watch: Piotr Zielinski
Best Euros performance: Quarter-finals (2016)
Fixtures
Sunday, 16 June: Netherlands, (Hamburg), 2pm
Friday, 21 June: Austria, (Berlin), 5pm
Tuesday, 25 June: France, (Dortmund), 5pm
Poland return to the European Championships for a fifth successive time after a gruelling qualifying campaign. Manager Michal Probierz has a tough task at hand after his side were drawn into the "group of death" with France, the Netherlands and Austria standing in the way of a place in the knockout stages.
Poland finished a distant third to Albania and Czechia in Group D of the qualifiers so their bid for a fifth straight European Championship went to the play-offs. Michał Probierz's side followed up a comfortable semi-final success against Estonia by booking their passage with a shoot-out victory against Wales after 120 goalless minutes in Cardiff. Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny provided the heroics on the night, saving Dan James' effort from the spot and booking that all important ticket to Germany this summer.
Robert Lewandowski remains Poland's strongest attacking threat, despite heading towards his 36th birthday, and 26 goals for Barcelona this season shows he can still cut it at the top level. But he will miss the opening game against the Netherlands. Piotr Zielinski offers further experience and Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior holds together the defence, while Sebastian Szymanski will be hoping to take his club form onto the national stage.
Some fresh faces are poised to become household names in this Polish squad. Nicola Zalewski, Roma's dynamic left-sided wing-back, is notable for his impressive ball-handling and offensive play. In midfield, Jakub Piotrowski emerges as a key player despite being lesser-known outside his current club Ludogorets in Bulgaria. These players symbolise the youthful infusion that Probierz is slowly integrating into the squad.
However, the retirements of stalwarts like Kamil Glik and Grzegorz Krychowiak have left a void, diminishing the strength of the team's core. The blend of ageing icons and emerging talents showcases the side's transition between eras.
Watch every game from Euro 2024 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player as well as highlights and goals as they happen on RTÉ Sport digital platforms
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
