(Football news) Based on goals scored, Didier Deschamps’s team ranks second in Group D behind the Netherlands; nevertheless, their opponents, the Polish team, finished last and will undoubtedly be disappointed to have been the first team eliminated from the competition.

France’s tight 1-0 victory over Austria and their 0-0 tie with the Netherlands last Friday raise doubts about their eligibility as potential Euro 2024 champions, indicating that they have yet to exhibit their best side in Germany.

Xavi Simons’ goal in the 69th minute was controversially disallowed on Friday after Denzel Dumfries was found to have interfered with play by blocking goalkeeper Mike Maignan from trying to make a save. In fact, Les Bleus can consider themselves lucky to have four points after two games.

Their 0-0 draw against the Netherlands was their 12th in Euros and World Cups since their first goalless draw in 1992, more than any other national team in this period.

Following Friday’s result, criticism of Deschamps’s team has increased, particularly from commentators who feel the Frenchman is yet to make the most of the immense talent at his disposal.

However, it should be noted that captain and talismanic forward Kylian Mbappe played no part in the draw against the Netherlands as a result of the broken nose he suffered against Austria.

Additionally, even though France have not played as well as they would have liked, there are still aspects of their performance across the opening two games that they can look to build upon as the tournament progresses, most notably the promising displays of Theo Hernandez, Mbappe and N’Golo Kante.

As for Les Bleus’ form, they defeated Austria 1-0 in the opening group stage game and were held to a goalless draw last Friday against the Netherlands in their second, while they are also unbeaten in their last five matches and have won 14 of their last 20 fixtures.

If France avoid defeat against Poland or if Austria do not beat the Netherlands, then they will finish in the top two and go through to the round of 16.

France will top the group if they win and the Netherlands do not, but if Les Bleus and the Dutch both win or both draw, they will be split for first and second place by goal difference, then goals scored, then disciplinary points and then the European Qualifier rankings, in which France rank higher.

Interestingly, if France were to keep a clean sheet against Poland then it would be the first time in their history that they have conceded zero goals in the group stages of the Euros, beating their previous record of one goal set in 2016.

It would also be their eighth time qualifying from the group stages of the European Championship, and if they were to top the group it would be their sixth time doing so in their 10 attempts.

As for Poland, they have finished fourth in Group D having lost their opening two games against the Netherlands and then Austria last Friday.

Although the Eagles can still finish level on points with Austria, they cannot surpass them because Austria have a superior head-to-head record given their 3-1 victory on Friday, and this supersedes factors such as overall goal difference.

In fairness to manager Michal Probierz, record top scorer and record appearance holder Robert Lewandowski was an unused substitute against the Netherlands due to a thigh problem sustained during a pre-tournament friendly against Turkey, and when subbed on in the 60th minute against Austria he had limited impact.

Probierz also only took charge of the national team in September 2023 and has overseen a period of largely positive results, having won six out of his 10 games and only lost for the first time at Euro 2024.

Poland’s exit at this stage of the competition unfortunately continues a trend of disappointing performances at major tournaments.

In fact, since 1986 they have only managed to reach the quarter-finals of either the Euros or the World Cup once, with that being at the 2016 European Championship in France.

As for the Euros themselves, though Poland have qualified for the last five tournaments they have exited at the group stage on four of these occasions.

Probierz’s side come into Tuesday’s clash having lost their last two games, but prior to these results they did go unbeaten for eight games, winning six times.

Also read: Netherlands will play Austria in their last group stage match