France and the Netherlands edged towards the last 16 of Euro 2024 after a 0-0 draw in Leipzig that failed to catch fire in the absence of Kylian Mbappe. The match, held at the iconic Leipzig Stadium, was anticipated to be a thrilling encounter, but the lack of goals left fans yearning for more excitement.
The French captain, Kylian Mbappe, sat out the whole match from the bench after breaking his nose in France’s opening 1-0 win over Austria just four days ago. His absence was keenly felt, as the French team struggled to find the back of the net without their star player leading the attack.
Xavi Simons had a goal controversially ruled out for the Dutch, while Antoine Griezmann wasted two glorious chances for France. The disallowed goal for the Netherlands came after a lengthy VAR check, which has been a welcome rarity at the tournament so far. The officials on the field ruled that Denzel Dumfries was interfering with French goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s ability to stop the shot, leading to the goal being chalked off.
A share of the spoils leaves the sides level on four points at the top of Group D, one ahead of Austria who beat Poland 3-1 earlier on Friday. This result sets up an intriguing final round of group matches, with all three teams still in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
France take on the Poles, while the Netherlands face Austria in the final games of the section on Tuesday. These matches will be crucial in determining the final standings in Group D, with the potential for dramatic twists and turns as the teams battle for progression.
Les Bleus had won both meetings when these sides met in qualifying but Mbappe scored four of France’s six goals in those games. His absence in this match was a significant blow to the French side, who lacked the cutting edge that Mbappe provides.
Roared on by an orange wall around two-thirds of the Leipzig Stadium, the Dutch nearly pounced on any French uncertainty within a minute. The explosive pace of Jeremie Frimpong took him clear on goal but the Bayer Leverkusen man could not produce a clean finish and Mike Maignan turned his shot behind. This early chance set the tone for a match that saw both teams create opportunities but fail to convert them into goals.
Aurelien Tchouameni replaced Mbappe in France’s only change as coach Didier Deschamps sought the security of an extra midfielder. Tchouameni’s inclusion was aimed at bolstering the French midfield and providing more stability in the absence of their talismanic captain.
Without their captain and talisman, the 2022 World Cup finalists turned to Griezmann for inspiration. The stand-in skipper stung the palms of Bart Verbruggen from distance with a powerful shot, but it was not enough to break the deadlock. Griezmann’s performance was a mixed bag, as he showed flashes of brilliance but also missed key opportunities.
The stand-in skipper stung the palms of Bart Verbruggen from distance. But the Atletico Madrid forward had a moment to forget with the biggest chance to open the scoring before half-time. An intricate move played in Adrien Rabiot but when he decided to pass rather than shoot, Griezmann failed to connect on his weaker right foot. This missed opportunity was a turning point in the match, as France struggled to create clear-cut chances thereafter.
At the other end, Maignan had to produce another fine save low to his left to turn Cody Gakpo’s drive behind. The French goalkeeper was in fine form, making several crucial saves to keep his team in the match. Maignan’s performance was one of the few bright spots for France in an otherwise lackluster display.
France had the better chances in the second period. Marcus Thuram fizzed a shot just wide from the edge of the area before Tchouameni could not keep a header down. The French team continued to press for a goal, but their finishing let them down time and again.
The normally reliable Griezmann was guilty of another big miss when his weak effort was turned behind by Verbruggen with the goal gaping. This miss summed up France’s night, as they failed to capitalize on their chances and were left frustrated by the Dutch defense.
But the major talking point of the first goalless draw of the tournament saw the Dutch denied a winner. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Simons fired in on the rebound after Maignan saved from Memphis Depay 18 minutes from time. The goal was ruled out by the officials on the field for offside as Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to be interfering with Maignan’s ability to stop the shot. This decision was met with controversy and debate, as the Dutch felt hard done by the ruling.
After a lengthy VAR check, which has been a welcome rarity at the tournament so far, the offside was confirmed and France handed a reprieve. The use of VAR has been a topic of discussion throughout the tournament, with some praising its accuracy and others criticizing its impact on the flow of the game.
Deschamps rejected the chance to risk Mbappe for the closing stages as he instead sent on Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman in search of a winner. The French coach opted for caution, preferring to preserve Mbappe for the crucial final group match against Poland. Giroud and Coman added fresh legs to the French attack, but they were unable to find a breakthrough.
But both sides settled for a point that is already likely enough to secure their passage to the knockout rounds thanks to the safety net that sees the four best third-placed finishers advance. This result leaves both teams in a strong position to progress, but they will need to improve their performances if they are to go deep into the tournament.
The match in Leipzig was a tale of missed opportunities and defensive resilience. Both teams had their moments, but neither could find the decisive goal. The absence of Mbappe was a significant factor for France, as they lacked the cutting edge that he provides. The Dutch, on the other hand, will feel aggrieved by the disallowed goal, but they can take heart from a solid defensive performance.
As the tournament progresses, both France and the Netherlands will need to find their scoring touch if they are to challenge for the title. The final group matches will be crucial in determining their fate, and fans will be hoping for more excitement and goals in the coming games.
In conclusion, the 0-0 draw between France and the Netherlands was a match that promised much but delivered little in terms of goals. The absence of Kylian Mbappe was keenly felt by the French, while the Dutch will rue their missed opportunities and the controversial disallowed goal. Both teams remain in a strong position to progress to the knockout stages, but they will need to improve their performances if they are to go far in the tournament. The final group matches on Tuesday will be crucial in determining the final standings in Group D, and fans will be eagerly anticipating the outcome.
