Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s European Championship Qualifying fixtures, including France vs. Netherlands.
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Bulgaria will be looking to continue their impressive start under new manager Mladen Krstajic when they host Montenegro in the first round of Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday.
Joining Hungary, Lithuania and Serbia in Group G, Bulgaria and Montenegro will both fancy their chances of reaching the competition proper in Germany next year, but a strong start is vital.
We say: Bulgaria 2-0 Montenegro
Given that Bulgaria have scored eight goals and conceded once across three wins and a draw since Krstajic’s arrival, we expect the hosts to secure a comfortable victory over Montenegro, who have managed to win just one of their last seven outings.
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Three months on from losing the 2022 World Cup final, France welcome the Netherlands to the Stade de France for their opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday.
The two European giants will be vying for top spot in Group B, and are joined by Greece, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar.
We say: France 2-1 Netherlands
An intriguing encounter between two top European nations is set to take place in Paris, with both sides keen to make a statement with an opening Euro 2024 qualification victory in their quest to top Group B.
Koeman will hope his adjustments can make the Dutch a more attacking outfit, but we believe that the French, led by goal machine Mbappe, will do enough to outscore their opponents and claim a slender victory.
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> How the Netherlands could line up against France
> How France could line up against the Netherlands
Gibraltar and Greece will be attempting to get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign off to a winning start when they square off on Friday evening.
With France, Netherlands and Republic of Ireland making up the remainder of Group B, neither side can afford to lose their opening fixture.
We say: Gibraltar 0-3 Greece
There have been occasions when Gibraltar have impressed on familiar territory, claiming draws or pushing established nations hard in defeat. However, Greece appear to have turned over a new leaf under Poyet, leading us to predict a one-sided victory for the visitors.
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Czech Republic and Poland start their Euro 2024 qualifying campaigns when they meet in Prague on Friday.
As the two standout favourites in Group E, both nations will expect to secure automatic qualification for the finals.
We say: Czech Republic 1-1 Poland
With star talent in both attacks, that should be where the game is won, but Santos’s appointment as Poland boss should see them remain strong defensively.
A draw would not be a bad result for either side, as long as they can beat the other three weaker nations in their group.
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European Championship qualifying gets underway for Moldova and Faroe Islands on Friday night as they clash in Group E at Stadionul Zimbru in Chisinau.
Both nations are aiming to reach their first-ever major tournaments in a qualifying group in which two of the five teams will advance to next year’s competition in Germany.
We say: Moldova 1-1 Faroe Islands
Moldova will relish their home advantage on Friday night but have not been in the best form of late, meaning three points are by no means a formality.
Faroe Islands have lofty ambitions as a footballing nation and should be good enough to earn a point on their travels to kick-start their quest for Euro 2024 qualification.
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Sweden and Belgium will begin their respective 2024 European Championship qualification campaigns with a Group F encounter in Solna on Friday night.
The home nation will enter the match off the back of four straight friendly victories, while this will represent Belgium’s first match since being eliminated in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
We say: Sweden 1-1 Belgium
Belgium have won their last three games against Sweden, with the home side not beating their opponents here since 1961. This has all of the makings of a very interesting game, but we are struggling to separate the two teams, ultimately settling on a low-scoring draw.
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Austria will be hoping to begin their European Championship qualification campaign with a victory at home against Azerbaijan on Friday.
However, the visitors potentially represent dangerous opponents having won each of their last five games ahead of their trip to Linz.
We say: Austria 2-0 Azerbaijan
Having kept clean sheets in each of their friendly victories during November, Austria should be confident of holding Azerbaijan at arm’s length at home on Friday.
Although the visitors have won each of their last five matches, none of their opponents were at a level close to Austria’s ability, suggesting that Rangnick’s side should be able to kick-start their qualification campaign with a comfortable victory.
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Serbia and Lithuania kick off their Euro 2024 qualification campaign when they meet at the Rajko Mitic Stadium on Friday night.
It is the first competitive meeting between the two nations since October 2019, when Friday’s hosts ran out 2-1 winners after a brace from Aleksandar Mitrovic.
We say: Serbia 5-0 Lithuania
Serbia should be able to kick off their qualification campaign with a comfortable victory, and given the disparity between the two sides, it is more likely to be a question of how many they can win by.
With the likes of Mitrovic and Vlahovic to choose from in attack, it would not be a surprise to see the Eagles rack up a victory by a sizeable margin.
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