By The first few days of Euro 2024 have flown by, with seven matches already played in Germany. Monday brings three more exciting fixtures, including the highly-anticipated debut of tournament favorites France, who will face Austria in their Group D opener.
France, the 2018 World Cup champions, have won their opening match at the last two European Championships and will be looking to maintain that streak against an Austrian side that has been in impressive form leading up to the tournament. Considered potential dark horses, Ralf Rangnick’s Austria will be aiming to upset the odds and make a statement against the star-studded French squad.
Earlier in the day, all four Group E teams will be in action. The first match pits Romania against Ukraine in Munich. While both sides have had inconsistent form recently, Ukraine will be the clear favorites. However, Romania could prove to be a handful, having topped their qualification group ahead of Switzerland.
The second Group E match features Belgium, a team known for their exciting attacking talent, including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. The Belgians will face Slovakia in Frankfurt, but coach Domenico Tedesco will need to navigate a defensive injury crisis to avoid an early upset. It’s worth noting that Belgium failed to reach the knockout stages at the 2022 World Cup, finishing behind eventual semi-finalists Croatia and Morocco.
Slovakia, on the other hand, enjoyed an impressive qualification campaign, suffering only one defeat to the unbeaten Portugal. They won seven matches and finished with 22 points, losing just three of their last 17 international fixtures.
The day concludes with the headline match between France and Austria. Led by the electrifying Kylian Mbappe, the French will be eager to make a statement in their opening game. However, Austria is likely to provide a sterner test than many anticipate. The 2008 tournament co-hosts have been in scintillating form, losing just once in their last 16 matches, with victories over Germany, Italy, and Sweden during that period.
As the fourth day of Euro 2024 unfolds, fans can expect thrilling encounters and potential surprises. While France and Belgium are the favorites in their respective matches, both Austria and Slovakia have the potential to cause upsets and shake up the tournament’s early stages. With the action heating up in Germany, Monday’s matches promise to be another captivating day of international football at its finest.
| Kick-off time (BST) | Fixture | Prediction |
| 14:00 | Romania vs Ukraine | 0-1 |
| 17:00 | Belgium vs Slovakia | 3-1 |
| 20:00 | Austria vs France | 1-2 |
Credit: 90mins.com
