Koeman demands focus, predicts Dutch improvement v France

LEIPZIG, Germany : The will-he-won't-he saga around Kylian Mbappe is far from the mind of Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman, who is concentrating on ensuring his team stay focused for the full 90 minutes of their Euro 2024 Group D match against France on Friday.

The build-up to the game at Leipzig Stadium has been dominated by the issue of whether France captain Mbappe will start after breaking his nose in their opening 1-0 win over Austria.

Mbappe terrorised the Dutch with four goals in two games against them in qualifying. Yet Koeman knows France have enough quality in their squad to cause problems whether Mbappe, who tested out a protective mask on Thursday, starts or not.

"France are such a strong team, that's even if he's not playing," the Dutch coach told reporters on Thursday.

"The substitute will be a great player as well. I can't really focus on this. All we can do is try to influence our team and to prepare ourselves as best as we can.

"Not everything depends on whether Mbappe is there or not. We know that he can be a game changer. He had a big influence on the last two games."

Those qualifying defeats ensured the Dutch finished second in their group behind France, with Didier Deschamps' side winning 4-0 in Paris and 2-1 in Amsterdam.

Koeman, however, is confident his side have improved.

"We hope that we'll be able to prove tomorrow that we have improved," he said.

"It is different. Maybe because we've prepared well, we had the friendlies, we've had more time now to work on our tactics our systems and we'll be a better team tomorrow against France."

The Dutch began their Euro 2024 campaign with a 2-1 win over Poland in which they created numerous chances but lacked a clinical edge until Wout Weghorst came off the