Netherlands vs France - Holland boss Danny Blind hoping to exploit France's frailties - 7M sport

Netherlands vs France - Holland boss Danny Blind hoping to exploit France's frailties



Posted Monday, October 10, 2016 by PA

Holland coach Danny Blind hopes to exploit the weaknesses he has pinpointed in France's team as Group A's top two sides go head-to-head in Monday's World Cup qualifier.

While the Dutch were twiddling their thumbs this summer after failing to make it to Euro 2016, France were playing their way to the final on home soil but Blind does not see their opponents as being superior.

Holland have drawn with Sweden, the other major contender in their group, and beaten Belarus to emerge as the early front-runners by virtue of goals scored.

France, meanwhile, opened with a frustrating goalless draw away in Belarus before finally finding their feet second time out against Bulgaria.

"The French also have their defects. They sometimes give away areas where we can use," Blind told reporters ahead of the match in Amsterdam.

"We started well against Sweden, only the result (1-1) was disappointing, and the good feeling about that game we brought to the game with Belarus (4-1).

"Now I want to do the same in that third game and, at the least, not lose.

"But France are a tough opponent. Those guys are used to playing top matches every week.

"They are physically strong and so we will have to make a stand there straightaway."

Blind has lost captain Wesley Sneijder to a hamstring injury aggravated in Friday's victory over Belarus but he called up fellow midfielder Tonny Vilhena as further cover on Saturday.

However, goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has injured an ankle in training and is set to be replaced by Michel Vorm.

France midfielder Moussa Sissoko has sprung to the defence of team-mate Paul Pogba, with the 23-year-old coming under increased scrutiny after failing to live up to early expectations following his B£89million move to Manchester United.

"In the group we are very happy to have him with us, very happy with what he does and it shows on the field," Sissoko, whose summer move from Newcastle to Tottenham has gone rather more smoothly, told reporters.

"Journalists may be making too much of it. He had a big transfer this summer and all it does is put him under the microscope but let's not forget that he's still a young player.

"The most important thing is to be trusted and do well in the group.

"After that what is said (by others) does not matter to him and it matters little to us."



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