Netherlands 0-0 France
I had billed this as the most glamorous clash in the first fortnight of the tournament. A meeting of two European heavyweights on a Friday night in Leipzig.
In the end though, the Euro 2024 highlights we were treated to were all a bit tame.
Perhaps that should not be a surprise.
After all, this point apiece pushes both nations closer to the knockout stages.
Highlights of the game
All eyes were on whether tallisman Kylian Mbappe would be fit to start.
It was doubtful after the French Football Federation announced a protective mask would be made for the forward after he sustained a broken nose during France’s opening win against Austria on Monday night.
Yet he was deemed ok to be named on the bench with Aurelien Tchouameni coming into midfield and Antoine Griezmann pushing further forward.
Holland also made one change to the side that beat Poland in their opening group game, with Joey Veerman replaced by Bayer Leverkusen wide man and Bundesliga winner Jeremie Frimpong.
Holland may well have breathed a sigh of relief as they appear to be Mbappe’s favourite opponent. He has scored six goals in five matches against the Dutch which is more than any other side in his international career to date.
Indeed, his first-ever international goal came against the Netherlands in August 2017.
Even without Mbappe, the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds were stacked towards Les Bleus, although it was Frimpong who came close to securing a blistering start as he tested the fingertips of Mike Maignan inside the first minute.
Griezmann twice went close in the space of 60 seconds, missing the ball from an Adrien Rabiot pass when the midfielder would have been placed to shoot, and secondly when he fired wide from the edge of the box.
Chances were at a premium after that until past the hour mark when Tchouameni flashed a header over the bar from a corner.
Holland did have the ball in the net with 21 minutes remaining but Xavi Simons’ shot was disallowed after Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to be impeding Maignan – not a decision everyone agreed with.
While Mbappe was not called upon, Holland super sub Wout Weghorst came on to try and grab a winner and actually stopped a potential one with an important tackle to deny N’Golo Kante in stoppage time.
In the end, though, this was a Euro 2024 stalemate.
France don’t often fail to score but will not be overly worried, while Holland can also be pleased with a good point given their difficulties.
Under Louis van Gaal 18 months ago, the Dutch seemed more impressive than the sum of their parts and the fact they pushed eventual world champions Argentina so close spoke volumes.
I just cannot see this with the current side but new boss Ronaldo Koeman – now in his second stint in charge of the national team – insists otherwise, despite the absences of midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners with ankle and groin injuries respectively.
These are simply further examples of the hurdles Koeman has faced.
Since Qatar, he has wanted to partner De Jong with the Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders but has been unable to do so.
Since Euro 2024 qualifying began last year, De Jong and Memphis Depay, who is six goals shy of breaking Robin van Persie’s goalscoring record, have featured in six and two competitive games respectively.
Koeman is pragmatic though and is getting on with his task.
One more point and Oranje, European Champions the last time the tournament was held on German soil, will be through to the last 16.
Key statistics
This was the fourth meeting between Holland and France at the tournament. France prevailed on penalties in the quarter-finals in 1996, whilst Holland won both of their group-stage encounters (3-2 in 2000, 4-1 in 2008).
Only five of the previous 31 matches between Holland and France have ended in a draw (15 wins for France, 11 wins for the Netherlands).
Excluding penalty shootouts, the Netherlands have lost just one of their last 18 games at major international tournaments (World Cup/Euros), going down 2-0 against the Czech Republic in Euro 2020 (won 12, drawn five).
France have not won any of their last seven games in which Mbappe has not started (five draws, two defeats).
What’s next?
The final matches in this group are on Tuesday teatime (June 25) as Holland take on Austria at the same time as France and Poland lock horns.
There is a chance three teams will qualify from this group.
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