Netherlands vs France live updates (2024)

So the Netherlands and France played out the first 0-0 draw of Euro 2024 — moving both closer to the knockout stages.

The ball did end up in the net once though: in the second-half courtesy of Xavi Simons.

However, referee Anthony Taylor and his VAR Stuart Attwell believed Denzel Dumfries was obstructing France goalkeeper Mike Maignan while in an offside position — leading to the goal being ruled out.

The wonderful Amy Lawrence, Peter Rutzler and Liam Tharme analyse the action in Leipzig.

France boss Didier Deschamps sounded entirely like someone who didn’t mind a goalless draw after the game, which probably shouldn’t be a surprise. Here he is via UEFA:

💬 “Unfortunately we were unable to find the back of the net. It was a high-intensity game, and I was happy with what my boys pulled out of the bag tonight, even though I was disappointed with our lack of efficiency in front of goal.

“We’re doing great things up front. There are a lot of positives to take away and you have to consider the opponents. Both (Austria and Netherlands) have been strong.

“But obviously, to win games you need to score goals. We’ll be looking at that and hoping to improve for the next game so we can meet our objective of making it through to the next round.”

How did Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman take that disallowed Xavi Simons goal, for Denzel Dumfries standing in an offside position and being deemed to affect Maignan’s ability to make a save? Here’s what he said after the game:

💬 “I think the position of Dumfries is offside, that’s true. But he isn’t disturbing the goalkeeper and when that doesn’t happen, then it’s a legal goal.

“You need five minutes to check it because it’s so difficult? I don’t understand. He’s not disturbing the goalkeeper. I think the goal should have stood.”

Even better for Bart Verbruggen. The Brighton goalkeeper made a little piece of European Championship history tonight, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a Euros finals match.

He’s just 21 years and 308 days old. Fair play, Bart.

A story from both ends of the pitch for the Netherlands tonight.

Tonight was only the second time in 36 matches the Dutch have failed to score — and both times came against France.

As for in goal, Bart Verbruggen completed 97.5 percent of his passes against France. That translated as 39 out of 40, and the highest accuracy for any goalkeeper with at least 40 passes in a European Championship match since 1980.

And yes, that stat does rather sum up those 90 minutes.

Here it is. France have now not won any of their last seven games when Kylian Mbappe has not started.

That’s five draws, two defeats and one painful reality for a talented squad.

It seems France love a goalless draw at a major tournament.

They have had 12 of them since their first 0-0, which came in 1992.

That is more than any over team over the same period.

If only I had known this before the game… Maybe the writing was always on the wall.

How does that goalless draw leave Group D looking ahead of the final matchday? Well just like this.

The draw between France and the Netherlands in Leipzig means Poland are officially eliminated from the tournament, having lost to Austria earlier. They will finish bottom of the group, but the rest is completely up for grabs for the remaining trio.

The group completes on Tuesday afternoon (European time), with France vs Poland and Netherlands vs Austria.

France captain on the night, Antoine Griezmann, knows there were missed opportunities to score against the Dutch this evening. Especially for him. Here’s what he just said to Fox:

💬 “I had two opportunities but couldn’t get the ball out from under my feet. The thing missing from our game was getting the ball forward. We were good defensively and tactically but we just couldn't get the ball into the net.

“We need to keep a cool head and it will come.”

While it is understandable that the French might miss their captain, it felt at times like they haven’t really got another way of finding a way through. They didn’t seem to have much guile about their play and looked almost lost without their main man.

It is up to Deschamps to find another way of playing when Mbappe is out because there is too much talent in that squad to play in such a pedestrian manner. It seemed on occasion as though the players were just waiting for a teammate to make something happen rather than just taking the initiative. And they desperately need to be more clinical in front of goal.

In truth, that game may have simmered along in the first half but it rather deteriorated after the break — bar the odd fun moment. Here are the numbers from Euro 2024’s first goalless draw…

FT: Netherlands 0-0 France

• Possession: 37% — 63%
• Shots: 8 — 15
• On target: 4 — 3
• XG: 0.33 — 1.42
• Big chances: 1 — 2
• Blocked shots: 4 — 5
• Duels won: 24 — 39
• Dispossessed: 10 — 6

France notably created some good chances in that second half and accelerated away in terms of attacking effort. That’s why they missed Mbappe, and why the Dutch may be caught between the positives of the draw and the missed opportunity of that Xavi Simons disallowed goal.

You can take the man out of the Premier League but you can’t take the Premier League out of the man. Anthony Taylor seemed to take an age to confirm that Xavi Simons’ strike would not stand but it felt cruel with or without the heartbreaking look on the Dutchman’s face.

While the reasoning is understandable, it occasionally feels as though the officials are looking for reasons to chalk goals off, which seems somewhat counterproductive given they are the entire point of the sport.

A 21-year-old was robbed of possibly the greatest moment of his life after the lengthiest VAR check of the tournament. How perfectly English.

Wijnaldum and Mbappe were having a good old natter in the middle of the pitch there at the end.

Both were in the 'loft' together at PSG at the start of the season; that effectively being their bomb squad.

William Goldman once said that, in Hollywood, “Nobody knows anything” and Chuck Berry sang, “You never can tell.” They both knew a thing or two about life.

Most of us were not expecting much from Turkey against Georgia and it was perhaps the most thrilling game of the group stage. This one was supposed to be a classic and yet it was lifeless for large periods despite the quality of the players all over the pitch.

Turkey and Georgia attacked each other from the off whereas this was a far cagier affair. You just never know.

As for the Netherlands, they sprang forward with pace really well at times. But it clearly wasn’t their priority.

That was keeping France out, then trying to take a chance if it came along.

And of course, that chance did. And Xavi Simons’ goal probably should’ve stood.

One that will rumble on I’m sure.

For France, it was pretty clear they missed Kylian Mbappe’s quality in the final third. They remain winless without him, as much as he remains without a goal at a European Championship.

It was a generally solid performance but both games so far have shown France do give you opportunities.

You just have to take them.

There we are. The first goalless draw of Euro 2024 comes in the 21st game.

All with a bit of VAR controversy thrown in. English VAR controversy, no less.

And you imagine both sides are probably happy enough to take the point and move on.

90+2' Netherlands 0-0 France

Weghorst with the crucial block in his own box. Difference-maker. Finisher.

(Editor Dom Fifield adds: “...substitute.”)

90+1' Netherlands 0-0 France

Five added minutes to find a winner then.

France continue to press.