France had been held to an underwhelming 0-0 draw with the Netherlands within the third of Friday’s Euro 2024 video games.
With Kylian Mbappe watching on from the bench simply days after breaking his nostril, France regarded slightly disjointed in assault, though Antoine Griezmann will nonetheless really feel as if he had sufficient possibilities to seal the win.
Xavi Simons noticed a second-half strike controversially chalked off by VAR, with the 2 sides finally labouring to the primary goalless draw of Euro 2024.
How the sport unfolded
Jeremie Frimpong obtained in behind within the opening two minutes however couldn’t get a full connection on the shot amid stress from the retreating Theo Hernandez, permitting Mike Maignan to deflect the hassle large. The stopper additionally obtained down properly to disclaim Cody Gakpo quickly after.
Griezmann was left questioning how he did not open the scoring when Adrien Rabiot’s cut-back left him stretching. The ball was behind the Atletico Madrid striker, who couldn’t convert from only a few yards out.
France quickly wrestled management of the sport and will have taken the lead by Marcus Thuram, however the Inter striker blazed his effort over the bar half-hour in after some good work from Jules Kounde down the best.
Xavi Simons and Memphis Depay each had harmful moments as the primary half wound down however neither managed to ask a critical query of Maignan within the France aim, whereas Griezmann’s tame header introduced the primary 45 minutes to an finish.
A sluggish begin to the second half noticed each side responsible of sloppy errors within the ultimate third. Thuram fired large on the hour mark, earlier than Aurelien Tchouameni headed over from shut vary.
Griezmann once more did not profit from an opportunity from shut vary. He couldn’t entice N’Golo Kante’s fast cross and scuffed his shot large.
France’s profligacy seemed to be punished 20 minutes from time when Simons fired into the again of the web, however a late flag determined Denzel Dumfries, who was stood in an offside place, was obstructing Maignan. A prolonged VAR verify finally agreed.
Within the dying embers, Rabiot’s low cross failed to seek out Kingsley Coman, which summed up this recreation fairly properly. A forgettable affair all spherical.
GK: Bart Verbruggen – 7/10 – A busy efficiency which featured a handful of sensible stops.
RB: Denzel Dumfries – 5/10 – Assured defensively contemplating Rabiot was reverse him, however did not do practically sufficient going forwards.
CB: Stefan de Vrij – 7/10 – Needed to preserve busy to cease Griezmann and Thuram. Held his personal comfortably.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7/10 – A robust exhibiting towards France’s speedy forwards. Did his finest to regulate his field.
LB: Nathan Ake – 5/10 – Did not get the possibility to make as a lot of an impression as he did within the opening recreation. Pushed again by Dembele.
DM: Jerdy Schouten – 6/10 – A stable recreation on the base of the Dutch midfield. Given a harsh yellow card however did not let that impression his play.
DM: Tijjani Reijnders – 6/10 – Needed to be affected person and await his time on the ball and, regardless of some good moments, did not at all times produce when wanted.
RM: Jeremie Frimpong – 6/10 – Provided the occasional second of high quality however did not look fully comfy on this new attacking position.
AM: Xavi Simons – 6/10 – The focus of the Netherlands’ assault, however Simons was slightly sloppy on the ball when it mattered most.
LM: Cody Gakpo – 6/10 – Some sensible moments down the left however did not get an entire lot out of Kounde.
ST: Memphis Depay – 5/10 – Discovered it arduous to get entangled within the recreation and responsible of not placing sufficient effort in defensively.
Substitutes
SUB: Georginio Wijnaldum (73′ for Simons) – 5/10
SUB: Joey Veerman (73′ for Schouten) – 5/10
SUB: Lutsharel Geertruida (73′ for Frimpong) – 5/10
SUB: Wout Weghorst (79′ for Memphis) – 5/10
Subs not used: Justin Bijlow (GK), Mark Flekken (GK), Daley Blind, Ian Maatsen, Matthijs de Ligt, Micky van de Ven, Ryan Gravenberch, Brian Brobbey, Donyell Malen, Joshua Zirkzee, Steven Bergwijn
Supervisor
Ronald Koeman – 5/10 – A tricky one to grade. Koeman clearly set as much as try to cease France from scoring, which he achieved. That being stated, maybe he ought to have proven slightly extra need to win this recreation with out Mbappe lining up towards him.
GK: Mike Maignan – 7/10 – Did not must do something too tough however managed to rise to the problem each time.
RB: Jules Kounde – 6/10 – Composed on the ball to try to make issues occur. Generally caught out of place however nothing too problematic.
CB: Dayot Upamecano – 6/10 – Caught out a couple of times on the again however largely held his personal towards Memphis. His velocity was wanted at occasions.
CB: William Saliba – 7/10 – Confirmed some spectacular one-on-one defending and did his finest to steer by instance.
LB: Theo Hernandez – 6/10 – A fantastic run to cease Frimpong within the opening phases however pale out of the sport after that.
RM: Ousmane Dembele – 7/10 – Some good moments on the ball and appeared to develop into the sport. His tempo was far an excessive amount of for Ake.
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 6/10 – Not at his most comfy on this position however did not precisely get a lot unsuitable. Loved taking part in alongside Kante.
CM: N’Golo Kante – 7/10 – Typical power stored France accountable for the midfield battle. Nonetheless clearly able to taking part in on the highest degree.
LM: Adrien Rabiot – 6/10 – His choice to cross to Griezmann will divide opinion. Whether or not he ought to have carried out it or not, the cross itself was not adequate.
AM: Antoine Griezmann – 6/10 – Buzzed round with nice power to try to hyperlink issues up, however appeared to be missing considerably within the ultimate third. Had a number of nice possibilities to open the scoring however could not discover his ft.
ST: Marcus Thuram – 5/10 – A handful of first rate runs however Thuram discovered it arduous to make a noticeable impression on this recreation.
Substitutes
SUB: Kingsley Coman (75′ for Dembele) – 6/10
SUB: Olivier Giroud (75′ for Thuram) – 6/10
Subs not used: Alphonse Areola (GK), Brice Samba (GK), Benjamin Pavard, Ferland Mendy, Ibrahima Konate, Jonathan Clauss, Eduardo Camavinga, Warren Zaire-Emery, Youssouf Fofana, Bradley Barcola, Kylian Mbappe, Randal Kolo Muani
Supervisor
Didier Deschamps – 5/10 – France did have the possibilities to win this, they usually had been simply concerning the higher facet, however this was removed from convincing. The plan with out Mbappe clearly wants slightly work.