Austria vs France: Euro 2024 Preview

Austria and France are set to play their first match of the UEFA Euro 2024 at Dusseldorf Arena on Monday 17th June.

Austria are making their fourth appearance in the UEFA Euros, and their third in a row. However, they are to face one of the best teams in Europe in their opening game.

This is France's 11th appearance at the UEFA Euros. They have managed to reach the finals in three of their last four major tournaments.  France lifted the 2016 FIFA World Cup but suffered defeats in the EURO 2016 final and 2022 World Cup final.

Austria was only one point behind Belgium in their qualifying group while France only dropped two points in their qualifying group.
With other strong teams such as Netherlands and Poland in the group, getting a win in the first game would be crucial for both France and Austria.

Austria are in excellent form having won five times and drawn once in their last six matches in all competitions.

France are also in good form securing three wins, two draws and one loss in their last six matches in all competitions.

Ralf Rangnick, the Austria coach, said the following;

We have to be stronger as a unit; we have to be better when transitioning; we have to be able to take our chances and score goals at crucial moments. Conversely, we have to make sure that they don't get too many chances to score. Together with Erling Haaland, [Mbappé] is probably the best forward in the world at the moment. We know that. But he's still only one of 11 players. We have to make sure that we defend so well as a team that there isn't much service for him.

Didier Deschamps, the France coach also said the following;

Austria are an underrated team. They have been improving over the past few years. We played them in the Nations League and we could see what a quality side they are. This is a very talented European nation that is in constant evolution. We will need all of our strength and also the right mentality, not thinking that because we are the France national team this match has been won before we've even played it.

Possible line-ups

Austria: Pentz, Posch, Lienhart, Trauner, Mwene, Laimer, Seiwald, Wimmer, Sabitzer, Baumgartner; Gregoritsch

France: Maignan, Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez, Griezmann, Kante, Rabiot; Dembéle, Thuram, Kylian Mbappe