Facing Poland on Tuesday (6 p.m.), in Dortmund, the French team has its destiny in its hands with a view to qualifying for the rest of the competition.
The Blues missed a round of 16 ball. They will have another one on Tuesday. The French team could in fact have secured its first place on Friday by beating the Netherlands in Leipzig. In the end, the two teams shared the points (0-0) in this Group D match. They are at the top of the group standings with four units, ahead of Austria (3 pts) and Poland (0 pts) . On the menu for the third day? Netherlands – Austria and France – Poland, Tuesday, at 6 p.m.
«We have our destiny in our hands, we have to finish the job on Tuesday», summarizes Olivier Giroud. This is partly true. In the event of a victory or draw against the Poles already eliminated from the race for the round of 16, the Tricolores will qualify for one of the first two places in the group. They would also be in the event of a draw or defeat for Austria. To win Pool D, France will have to win and hope for a draw or a defeat for the Netherlands. If the French and Dutch win or draw at the same time on Tuesday, the two teams will be decided for first and second place by the criteria established in l’article 20 of the regulations of the European Championship.
Knowing that direct confrontations represent the first element of measurement and that the Netherlands – France ended with a draw, the said criteria are as follows: best goal difference in all matches in the group, greatest number of goals scored in all group matches, lowest total of disciplinary points based solely on yellow cards and red cards received by players and team officials during all group matches and finally position in the overall rankings qualifying for the Euro. Remember that it is the Oranje who are currently in the lead, in terms of the number of goals scored (2 against 1), knowing that the two selections have the same goal difference (+1).
Note that if the Netherlands and France lose on Tuesday, Austria will finish at the top of the group. Dutch and French would therefore be decided for second and third place based on the criteria previously mentioned. One thing is certain: the Blues will finish at least third. With four points, it is already almost synonymous with qualification at worst within the third group.
France will qualify for the round of 16 :
– victory or draw against Poland
– draw or defeat for Austria against the Netherlands
– French and Dutch win or draw at the same time
– French and Dutch lose at the same time, France moves into the first two or must finish in the four best thirds.
