France’s Euro 2024 campaign starts with a clash against Austria in Dusseldorf on June 18.

Les Bleus have been placed in Group D at the tournament with Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands and Poland completing the four-team pool.

France have not won a European Championship title since 2000 and they famously lost out to Portugal  in the final on home soil at Euro 2016. They have reached three finals at their most recent four major tournament appearances, winning the 2018 World Cup before finishing as runners-up to Argentina four years later.

Didier Deschamps has a talented and experienced squad at his disposal and he will be confident of challenging for the trophy in the coming weeks.

For Austria, the challenge is to find a way to reach the knockout phase despite being placed in a difficult group. Former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick is the man tasked with accomplishing that goal, and he has led the team to six wins and a draw from their most recent seven games.

MORE: Who will win Euro 2024 Golden Boot? Prediction, odds, favorites and expert tips for top goal scorer award

France vs. Austria live stream, TV channel

• TV channel: N/A
• Streaming: Optus Sport

Australia: Australia’s sole broadcaster for Euro 2024 is Optus Sport. 

If this match is not available to watch live in your location, or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.

WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)

What time is France vs. Austria kickoff?

This Euro 2024 match kicks off from the Merkur Spiel-Arena on June 17 at 9:00 p.m. local time in Dusseldorf.

Here’s how that time translates across all of the time zones in Australia:

France vs. Austria lineups & team news

Deschamps will be without Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni for their opening game as he recovers from a foot injury.

New Los Blancos star Mbappe will captain France with Arsenal defender William Saliba expected start at centre-back alongside Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano. Antoine Griezmann is likely to continue the midfield playmaker role he has adopted for his country for the past two years.

France projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Maignan (GK) — Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez — Griezmann, Kante, Rabiot — Dembele, Thuram, Mbappe.

Austria are without veteran defender David Alaba for the tournament due to a long-term knee injury but he has travelled to Germany as a ‘non-playing captain’.

Former Premier League striker Marko Arnautovic is the key name in attack with Borussia Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer and Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer in midfield.

Austria projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Pentz (GK) — Posch, Lienhart, Trauner, Mwene — Laimer, Siewald — Wimmer, Sabitzer, Baumgartner — Gregoritsch.

France vs. Austria prediction

• Score prediction: France 2-0 Austria

France will want to lay down a marker to their tournament rivals against a solid Austria team that is short on firepower.

Mbappe has outlined his desire to leave his mark on Euro 2024 ahead of landing in Madrid, and France’s strength in depth makes them a force to be reckoned with.

They have reached three finals in their past four major tournament appearances, losing out in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2016 finals, either side of winning a world title in Russia in 2018.