France have barely broken a sweat in Euro 2024 qualifying so far and they have the chance to secure top spot in Group B with two qualifiers spare on Friday night.
While they were beaten by Germany in a friendly last month, France have been borderline unstoppable since suffering World Cup heartbreak in Qatar. They’re just one of three teams to have maintained a 100% start in qualifying alongside Portugal and Scotland.
Didier Deschamps’ men now have the chance to book their place in Germany next summer with a win over the Netherlands. France thrashed their upcoming opponents 4-0 in Paris back in March, and Ronald Koeman has plenty of injuries to contend with this month.
Outside of multiple centre-back absences, Deschamps has his strongest squad available, and here’s how France could line up in Amsterdam on Friday night.
GK: Mike Maignan – The Milan star will remain Deshamps’ number one despite his Harald Schumacher-esque heroics in Genoa on Saturday.
RB: Benjamin Pavard – Once a prominent figure for the national team, Pavard’s importance has waned in recent times but he should earn a start on Friday given France’s defensive absences.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – The Liverpool defender had been recalled before multiple centre-backs pulled out of the squad. That would suggest he’s currently Deschamps’ first choice for the right-sided role given the options the manager now has available.
CB: Lucas Hernandez – The versatile Hernandez can play anywhere on the left side of defence. On this occasion, he’ll be asked to perform a role he doesn’t play so often anymore.
LB: Theo Hernandez – With his brother tucking into a central position, Theo should have free rein to maraud down the left flank. His tussle with Denzel Dumfries will be one to keep an eye on.
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – The young midfielder has enjoyed a fine start to the season and has outperformed compatriot Eduardo Camavinga at Real Madrid.
CM: Adrien Rabiot – While many would love to see Camavinga join Tchouameni in the pivot, the hard-working Rabiot is almost assured of his place in the side.
RM: Ousmane Dembele – Deschamps could opt for either one-v-one machine he has at his disposal, and it’s genuinely a coin flip between Kingsley Coman and Dembele.
AM: Antoine Griezmann – The beating heart of this France side, Griezmann is back to his very best and he so often saves his most wonderful work for the national team.
LM: Kylian Mbappe – Only Michel Platini (0.57) and Just Fontaine (1.43) have a better goals-per-game ratio than Mbappe (0.56) among France’s all-time ten leading goalscorers. The PSG superstar is going in search of Olivier Giroud’s scoring record.
ST: Olivier Giroud – Speaking of whom, Giroud will temporarily suspend goalkeeping duties and return up top for France in Amsterdam.
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