MY ACCOUNT
France lock horns with the Netherlands looking to book a meeting with Germany in the Women’s Euro 2022 semi-finals.
The French have looked dangerous so far in the tournament, easing past Italy 5-1 and defeating Belgium 2-1 before rotating personnel for their clash with Iceland, who held them to a 1-1 draw.
As for the Netherlands, they finished level on points with Sweden in Group C but placed second due to their inferior goal difference.
Team news
Corinne Diacre is expected to revert back to the same starting line-up which beat Belgium — with the exception of the injured Marie-Antoinette Katoto — having changed things up for the game with Iceland.
There is both good and bad news for the Dutch with star forward Vivianne Miedema expected to play but winger Lieke Martens is ruled out after suffering a tournament-ending foot injury.
Esmee Brugts is likely to replace Martens on the flank.
The stats
France topped Group D with seven points from their three games and had a habit of getting the job done early, with all eight strikes they have managed in the tournament coming in the first half.
Les Bleues have multiple sources of goals, even without Katoto with Kadidiatou Diani fresh from scoring 13 times in 18 league matches for Paris Saint-Germain last season and Grace Geyoro hitting three at Euro 2022 so far.
Netherlands have been involved in some high-scoring matches recently with six of their last nine contests in all competitions featuring over 3.5 goals.
Prediction
With the defending European champions taking on a France team that many believe can go the distance this summer, this is a tough quarter-final to call.
Netherlands did not look overly convincing coming into the tournament, having been thrashed 5-1 by hosts England, and there have been questions about whether boss Mark Parsons has what it takes to lead them to glory.
France looked the better of the sides of the group stage, establishing a 5-0 lead against Italy less than 45 minutes into the tournament, and they are the favourites to come out on top.
One thing that seems certain is that there should be goals in this game.
There were 12 in the Netherlands’ three group outings, while there were 11 in the matches featuring France, who have also netted at least twice in four of their last five fixtures.
Defences will be stronger this time around but there is also plenty of attacking quality on show and France forward Diani in particular is one to watch, with Katoto’s absence requiring her to step up to the plate.
The 27-year-old got on the scoresheet in the win over Belgium and could well find the net again in what should be a high-octane affair with the Dutch.
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