Football

The Netherlands and Austria face off in a crucial Group D clash at Euro 2024, with both teams vying for top spot. The Dutch, who have finished first in their groups at the past two major tournaments, are looking to secure a place in the knockout phase with a victory. However, Austria, who impressed in their 3-1 win over Poland, could also qualify for the last 16 with a positive result.Dutch coach Ronald Koeman has admitted that his side was "not up to scratch" in their goalless draw with France, but a win against Austria would wrap up top spot in the group, provided France do not win by a bigger margin in their simultaneous final game against Poland.Despite a promising start to the campaign, there has been debate back home about the make-up of the Dutch team. Memphis Depay, who struggled up front against France, has faced criticism, while there have been calls for Wout Weghorst to be given a start after he came off the bench to score the winner in the Netherlands' opening game against Poland.Austria, meanwhile, will likely go through with a point as one of the best third-placed teams but could also still finish first with a win, if France fail to beat Poland. Touted as one of the dark horses for the tournament, Ralf Rangnick's men impressed in their victory over Poland and will be looking to guarantee a top-two finish with a positive result against the Netherlands.Austria made the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time since 1954 three years ago, when they gave eventual Euros winners Italy a fright in the last 16 before losing in extra time. They have never reached the quarter-finals at a European Championship."Somehow it is nice to be called that (dark horses)," said Christoph Baumgartner, who scored the crucial goal which put Austria 2-1 ahead against Poland. "We won against Germany in the build-up, we had a really good period in the last few weeks and months, and then people start to think big quite quickly.""But we as a team always knew how to assess the situation. We knew against France we weren't at our maximum. We know if we reach our best level we can beat a lot of nations."

Netherlands vs France: A Clash of Titans in Euro 2024 Group StageThe UEFA Euro 2024 group stage is set to witness a blockbuster encounter as 2022 World Cup finalists France lock horns with the Netherlands in Group D. Both teams enter the match on the back of narrow victories, with France edging out Austria 1-0 and the Dutch staging a comeback to defeat Poland 2-1 on Matchday One.The match, scheduled for Saturday, June 22 (IST), will be played at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. It promises to be a captivating clash between two of Europe's most formidable footballing nations.France, led by the enigmatic Kylian Mbappe, will be eager to prove their World Cup credentials once again. However, Mbappe's participation is uncertain after he suffered a broken nose in the first game. Marcus Thuram or Kingsley Coman are likely to replace him in the starting lineup.The Netherlands, under the guidance of Louis van Gaal, will be looking to build on their impressive performance against Poland. Cody Gakpo, who scored the winning goal in that match, will be a key player for the Dutch.Both teams possess a wealth of attacking talent, with the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema, and Memphis Depay expected to feature. The match is likely to be decided by the team that can create and convert the most chances.The Netherlands vs France match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website. Fans can expect an enthralling encounter between two of the tournament favorites.

Poland vs Austria: Lewandowski's Return Boosts Poland's Euro 2024 HopesPoland will be hoping to reignite their Euro 2024 campaign when they face Austria in a crucial Group D clash on Friday, June 21. Both teams suffered narrow defeats in their opening matches, leaving them in need of a positive result to keep their qualification hopes alive.Poland's hopes have been boosted by the potential return of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who missed the opening game against the Netherlands due to a shoulder injury. Lewandowski's presence would provide a significant attacking threat for Poland, who struggled to create chances in his absence.Austria, meanwhile, will be confident of causing an upset after holding world champions France for large parts of their opening game. However, they will need to be more clinical in front of goal, having failed to convert several promising opportunities against France.The match will be played at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, with kick-off scheduled for 9:30 PM IST. It will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.Key Details:* Date: Friday, June 21 (IST)* Venue: Olympiastadion, Berlin* Kick-off: 9:30 PM IST* TV Channels: Sony Sports Network* Live Streaming: SonyLiv app and website