Euro 2024: Austria prepares for France’s test

2020 World Cup runners-up, France will begin their Euro 2024 campaign against an impressive Austria side.

This would be an important encounter at the Merkur Spiel Arena on Monday as both teams can pack a punch on their day and will want to begin their group-stage campaign with a victory.

Having topped their group comfortably in their UEFA Euro qualification campaign, France have been in excellent form in recent months. 

Although held to a disappointing 0-0 stalemate by Canada in their previous game, France have a point to prove this week.

Although Lea Bleus the favourite, Austria, on the other hand, finished in second place behind Belgium in their qualifying campaign. They have grown in stature under Ralf Rangnick and won’t be a pushover in Germany.

 They are going into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw against Switzerland and will need to take it up a notch in this fixture.

France have an excellent head-to-head record against Austria. Les Bleus have won 13 out of the 25 matches between the two teams, while Austria won nine.

However, Austria is going into this match as an underdog, having won only one of their last ten matches against France in all competitions. Their only victory was a 3-1 scoreline in a FIFA World Cup qualifier 2008.

Austria are making its third consecutive appearance in UEFA Euro competitions. Their only prior appearance was in 2008, when they secured automatic qualification as tournament co-hosts. They reached the round of 16 in 2020 but were knocked out by eventual champions Italy 2-1 in extra time.

This being their third meeting in major international tournaments, France boasts a stellar squad and can be virtually unstoppable on their day.

Didier Deschamp has stars like Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe, who have pace to burn and will look to be at their lethal best this week.

Austria, although have no individual star, can pull off an upset. They will be up against a powerful opponent on Monday, as France are the better team on paper and hold the upper hand going into this game.