France takes on Netherlands in a crucial World Cup Qualifier
Kick-off : 8:45 PM (Local)
Venue : Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Les Bleus could take a big step towards next year’s World Cup by defeating Holland and will make things difficult for the latter.
The two countries sit second and third in Group A behind Sweden. France are ahead of the Dutch by three points.
If France wins on Thursday night, then Dutch coach Dick Advocaat will have a lot of work to do to ensure the Netherlands don’t miss out on another major tournament.
Didier Deschamps has a lot of depth at disposal nowadays. His last selection of squad was a tight one and with the current selection everybody is debating as to who is not selected rather than who is.
Karim Benzema again continues to be overlooked. While two other high profile names to be left out this time are Anthony Martial and Ousmane Dembele.
With guys like Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Paul Pogba, Alexandre Lacazette, Antoine Griezmann etc. in the team, no wonder Deschamps is spoilt for choice.
I think both teams have a lot of talented players and it should be a good game.
Team news and possible line-ups
Netherlands will be without Virgil Van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Daryl Janmaat and Jeffrey Bruma. So Advocaat will have to stick with the same defenders which won them the game against Luxembourg.
Though Robin van Persie has earned a recall, Netherlands will play Vincent Janssen in the XI as he has a good record for them.
France will be missing Raphael Varane, who is out due to injury. While Benzema continues to be exiled.
Ousmane Dembele and Anthony Martial misses out.
Netherlands XI : Cillessen, Veltman, Hoedt, De Vrij, Blind, Sneijder, Strootman, Wijnaldum, Robben, Janssen, Memphis.
France XI : Lloris, Sidibe, Koscielny, Umtiti, Kurzawa, Kante, Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann, Lemar, Giroud.
Prediction
I think France should win it 2-1 on Thursday.
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