France and the Netherlands drew 0-0 at the European Championships, the first goalless game of the tournament.
Will Kylian Mbappé play or not? That was the big question before the game after the French superstar broke his nose in France's opening game of the European Championship against Austria (1:0). Mbappé took his place on the substitutes' bench. He didn't seem particularly happy with the mask he was wearing when he came on and stayed out for the entire match.
The opening phase was extremely attractive. Not even a minute had been played when French goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a fingertip save against Jeremie Frimpong, who had been moved into the Dutch starting eleven. In the 4th minute, the omnipresent Antoine Griezmann tested Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen with a fine long-range shot. Ten minutes later, the French came close to making it 1-0 twice, the second time Griezmann flicked the ball wide of the goal from eleven meters. In the 16th minute, Maignon made a good save from Cody Gakpo.
After that, the game flattened out and was dominated by tactics. The Dutch did not press and waited for the French to make mistakes in the middle zone. When they did, however, coach Ronald Koeman's team lacked the necessary precision to capitalize on them. And when Xavi Simons scored in the 69th minute, the goal was disallowed because Maignon was obstructed by Denzel Dumfries, who was offside.
Both nations on course for the round of 16
The lead for the passive Dutch would have been anything but deserved. France stepped up their game again in the second half and were in control, but Griezmann missed the best opportunity in this phase again (65'). In the final minutes, the two teams no longer took any great risks, meaning that for the first time at this tournament a match ended goalless.
The two teams had already met in the European Championship qualifiers. The French won 4:0 at home and 2:1 away, and now they have maintained an impressive run. This is the 13th time since the 2-0 defeat to Spain in the 2012 quarter-finals that coach Didier Deschamps' side have not lost after 90 minutes at a European Championship.
Both France and the Netherlands can live with the point. Both now have four points to their name and should reach the round of 16. The French face Poland on Tuesday, who are without a point, while the Netherlands take on Austria.
Telegram
Netherlands - France 0:0
Leipzig. - 38'531 spectators. - SR Taylor.
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Aké; Schouten (73rd Veerman), Simons (73rd Wijnaldum), Reijnders; Frimpong (73rd Geertruida), Depay (79th Weghorst), Gakpo.
France: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Théo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Kanté, Rabiot; Dembélé (75. Coman), Thuram (75. Giroud), Griezmann.
Remarks: 69th goal by Simons disallowed (offside). Cautions: 32nd Schouten.
The live ticker for the replay
Netherlands
France
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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69.
Controversial decision: Simons scores - but the goal doesn't count
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90.+6.End of 2nd half
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79.Substitution in Netherlands
Wout Weghorst
Striker
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79.Substitution out Netherlands
Memphis Depay
Striker
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75.Substitution in France
Olivier Giroud
Striker
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75.Substitution out France
Marcus Thuram
Striker
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75.Substitution in France
Kingsley Coman
Striker
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75.Substitution out France
Ousmane Dembélé
Midfielder
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73.Substitution in Netherlands
Lutsharel Geertruida
Defender
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73.Substitution out Netherlands
Jeremie Frimpong
Striker
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73.Substitution in Netherlands
Joey Veerman
Midfielder
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73.Substitution out Netherlands
Jerdy Schouten
Midfielder
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73.Substitution in Netherlands
Georginio Wijnaldum
Midfielder
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73.Substitution out Netherlands
Xavi Simons
Midfielder
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+2.End of 1st half
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31.Yellow card Netherlands
Jerdy Schouten
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1.Start of the match
