Defeat Unthinkable for the Dutch
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UEFA World Cup qualifying Group A was always going to be tough, especially with France and Netherlands, who meet in this match, drawn together.
Finishing top of the group is the only way a nation can guarantee a place in the 2018 World Cup finals, with second place going into the playoff rounds, where anything could happen. Unfortunately for both France and Netherlands, Sweden and to some extent Bulgaria, have proven difficult additions to the group.
As things stand going into this match, France are in second place in Group A on 13 points, the same as Sweden but behind on goal difference. Netherlands are third in the group on 10 points and Bulgaria are fourth in the group on 9 points.
Therefore, if Netherlands lose this match, they will fall 6 points behind France and can almost certainly kiss goodbye to the automatic qualification spot and must rely on Bulgaria beating Sweden to have any chance of second place.
France are trying to forget about their 1-0 defeat in the final of the 2016 European Championship and focus on the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They have won four, drawn one and lost one of their six group games.
They have played just two home matches to date, winning both against Bulgaria and Sweden, although the victory over the latter was not very convincing. Away from home is where France have struggled and they have drawn in Belarus and lost to Sweden.
Trends show France have lost just one of their previous eighteen home World Cup qualifying games and have won six of the last seven.
Netherlands are seemingly in a time of transition and they failed to qualify for the 2016 European Championship. Having finished as runners-up in the 2010 World Cup and third place in the 2014 World Cup, it would be a shock not to see them in Russia.
However, trends show they have lost two of their last four World Cup qualifying games, with defeats coming at home to France and away to Bulgaria. The Netherlands of old would have expected to pick up 4 points from those two games, not zero.
Netherlands away record in World Cup qualifying is generally good and the defeat in Bulgaria was their first in eighteen games. However, none of the victories in that run of matches has been against a team as good as France.
Looking ahead to the team news and France have a quality squad from which to select but Paul Pogba, Antione Griezmann and Olivier Giroud have been vital in the goal scoring department.
Netherlands will be looking towards Quincy Promes, Memphis Depay and Arjen Robben to carry their attacking threat, much of which may come on the break.
Considering home advantage, their talented squad and place in the group, France must be considered favourites to win this match. They have scored 3 or more goals in seven of their previous ten home World Cup qualifying games and the Netherlands will struggle to keep them out.
If they are losing towards the end of the match, Netherlands will need to push forward and this could see them hit on the counter-attack, with France winning the match with a two or three goal cushion.
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