Düsseldorf’s Merkur Spiel-Arena is the venue for Monday’s UEFA Euro 2024 final as in-form Austria and favorites France clash in Group D.
Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria have become an excellent team that is difficult to break down due to their tight defense and ability to force opponents into mistakes. They had a successful qualifying campaign where they finished second behind Belgium and qualified for the Euros.
Now Rangnick has a chance to make history with this team as they can upset the big boys after being drawn in Group D alongside the Netherlands, Poland and France. They will open their account against France, who are the favorites of this group.
France are one of the favorites to win Euro 2024 after opening their account against Austria in their opening match. Les Bleus had a good warm-up for the friendlies as they secured victory against Luxembourg in the first leg, followed by a goalless draw against Canada in the final friendly.
Didier Deschamps pulled off a trick by recalling N’Golo Kante back into the squad as he can prove a difference maker in this tournament. With Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in excellent form, Les Bleus have a real chance to win this time.
Team news
A handful of big Austrian names will be watching the Euros from the hospital, including ACL victims David Alaba and Sasa Kalajdzic, while RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager has also been ruled out due to a serious knee problem.
However, Austria’s most capped men’s player of all time – veteran striker Marko Arnautovic – is in the ranks, although Michael Gregoritsch is expected to win the scrap for ninth place in Rangnick’s 4-2-3-1.
Right-back Stefan Posch has also been dealing with a knee problem and is set to start in defence, especially with Gernot Trauner missing practice on Friday, although that was more of a precaution than anything else.
As for the star-studded French outfit, Kingsley Coman was knocked down by illness earlier in the week but should be fine, while Mbappe is also reluctant to go despite an alarming knock to his knee in the friendly win over Luxembourg.
That’s more than can be said for Real Madrid lynchpin Aurelien Tchouameni, who is still recovering from a leg injury that saw him miss the Champions League final, so Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot is expected to be instructed in the engine room. .
A little further back, Arsenal’s William Saliba looked likely to be overlooked despite his superb season in the Premier League, but Deschamps has now apparently reversed his decision, dropping Ibrahima Konate to the bench instead.
Austria’s possible starting lineup:
Pentz; Posch, Danso, Wober, Mwene; Siewald, Grillitsch; Laimer, Sabitzer, Baumgartner; Gregoritsch
France’s possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kante, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Thuram
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