By Eduard Bănulescu

Euro 2024 is set to be a challenge not only for the teams who have hardly ever made it this far but for the familiar favorites, too. Group D may have made for a “Group of Death” in older days. This time, however, one team clearly stands above the rest, at least if we go by stats.

Today, I’m looking at the matches in Group D, offering my predictions and previewing the upcoming matches.

Make sure that you use this information when creating your Euro 2024 fantasy football teams.

EURO 2024 FANTASY FOOTBALL – GROUP D

France

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

France

Preview

France is the best team in Euro 2024. Of course, we can say this before the tournament actually starts. I’m basing my statement on the team’s squad and on the consistent success they’ve found under Didier Deschamps’s management.

It’s an opinion, frankly, that few would argue against. Still, the general consensus seems to be that France’s biggest threat may just be the team itself. Dissention and unfriendliness in these important moments are not necessarily unheard of when it comes to Les Bleues.

What about France’s opposition in Group D? They go against three strong national team sides. The match against The Netherlands, in particular, looks like a derby. But, if I’m being honest, once again, it’s hard to see France failing to win this group.

Predicted Line-up

Maignan
Kounde Saliba Pavard T.Hernandez
Camavinga Tchouameni/Kante
Dembele Greizmann Mbappe
Giroud

Fantasy football prediction

Where to start? Unlike most of the other top teams at the Euros, France looks strong in all areas of the pitch.

Historically speaking, we know that Deschamps’ France teams tend to excel defensively at these sorts of tournaments. Defensive midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and veteran N’Golo Kante should be considered for your teams.

Wing-backs Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez can always create goal-scoring chances.

What about attackers? Antoine Griezmann has the imagination and energy to run the show. And, in Kylian Mbappe, France may just have the Euros’ most lethal attacker.

Finally, while Olivier Giroud famously rarely scores many goals in these kinds of tournaments, he is a highly useful player that Deschamps will use often. While not your first choice, you can consider this as well.

Euro 2024 squad

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Forwards:

Netherlands

Preview

The Netherlands’ squad for Euro 2024 is something of an anomaly. They’re not quite the imaginative, free-flowing team that you’d expect. But they certainly have a few stars, a strong bond between players, and quite a lot of experience at this level.

What’s missing? Well, Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners for a start. They got injured just before Euro 24 started.

Even before that, there was a feeling Ronald Koeman has bet everything on team strength rather than individual prowess.

How well have The Netherlands played recently? Well, they tend to win against less-ranked opposition and lose against teams like Germany and France. That sounds about right here as well!

Predicted Line-up

Verbruggen
Dumfries De Ligt Van Dijk Ake
Reijnders Schouten Veerman
Simmons/Frimpong Depay Gakpo

Fantasy football prediction

Euro 2024 squad

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Austria

Preview

The biggest story from the Austrian camp has been provided by… Ralf Rangnick. Yes, the esteemed Grandfather of Gegenpressing, has truly found a home for himself as national team coach.

Yes, under his guidance, Austria has become a team capable of pressing aggressively from the front and hitting teams on the break.

Much of this works because Austria’s team is mostly made up of players active in the Bundesliga. The same squad of players, give or take, has been together for a few years at this stage.

Predicted Line-up

Pentz
Posch Lienhart Wober Mwene
Seiwald Laimer
Baumgartner Sabitzer Schmid 
Gergoritsch

Fantasy football prediction

Austria can cause some surprises, although the caliber of the opposition could overwhelm them.

Marcel Sabitzer is the team’s undeniable leader. He’s the creative engine of the team, their top scorer and assists provider. He is worth having in your team if you find yourself one midfielder short.

Austria doesn’t have many other stars. But they do a few things very well. The make plenty of tackles. And, most of their attacking plays end with a shot toward target.

It’s hard to encourage you to pick Nicolas Seiwad or Christoph Baumgartner ahead of more prestigious players. But, honestly, this Austria team isn’t bad at all.

Euro 2024 squad

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Forwards:

Poland

Preview

Poland seems, on paper, to resemble teams like Switzerland or Belgium. The last time they failed to qualify for a major tournament was in 2014. They’ve had some top stars during that period, none greater than Robert Lewandowski.

Still, they’ve rarely made it very far in these tournaments. They haven’t played attractive football most of the time. And they nearly missed Euro 2024.

But, unlike Switzerland or Belgium, Poland seems to be replenishing its squad faster. Most of their squad is below 30 years of age and many are expected to enter their prime.

It’s hard to see Poland doing much more than they have in recent tournaments, but it’s hard to see them being pushovers, either.

Predicted Line-up

Szczesny
Bednarek Dawidowicz Kiwior
Frankowski Piotrowski SliszZalewski
Szymanksi Zielinski
Swiderski

Fantasy football prediction

Poland doesn’t tend to be very exciting at these tournaments. However, their very best players tend to show up.

We may be treated to a few good individual performances by the likes of Jakub Kiwior, Piotr Zielinski, and goalie Wojciech Szczesny.

This will also likely be Robert Lewandowski’s Euro championship swan song, and the great scorers could come good with a couple of goals, although he has recently struggled with injuries.

Euro 2024 squad

Goalkeepers:

Defenders:

Midfielders:

Forwards:

In need of more predictions and previews for Euro 2024? Here are our guides for the other teams in the tournament: 

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

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