FRANCE drew 0-0 with Netherlands at Euro 2024 in the first goalless game of the tournament.
Dutch forward Xavi Simons had a goal controversially ruled out by VAR deep into the second half.
Les Bleus were without Kylian Mbappe, who broke his nose in their last game against Austria.
- Kick-off time: 8pm BST
- Stream/TV: BBC One/iPlayer
- Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Reijnders, Simons; Frimpong, Depay, Gakpo
- France XI: Maignan, Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez, Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Griezmann, Thuram
- Why isn’t Kylian Mbappe playing?
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That’s all from Leipzig
It’s the end of day eight at Euro 2024, and the end of the scoring streak that has seen at least one goal in every game.
Every game that is, until tonight.
France’s 0-0 draw with Netherlands edges the pair closer to the knockout stage – eliminating Poland in the process – but did little to excite football fans watching across Europe.
Still, if you thought England’s lacklustre performance yesterday sparked conversation, it may pale in significance compared to the decisions made by the English officials here.
Referee Anthony Taylor, linesman Adam Nunn and VAR Stuart Atwell combined to rule out a Xavi Simons goal that surely should have stood – and took an age in doing so in the process.
Hopefully, everyone will have calmed down by the time we return tomorrow to cover every kick of three games that include Georgia v Czech Republic, Turkey v Portugal and Belgium v Romania.
Goodnight.
Pundits agree on offside shocker
The BBC punditry team of Alan Shearer, Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney were unanimous in their belief that Xavi Simons’ strike should have stood during the Netherlands’ goalless draw with France.
The goal was ruled out – a decision upheld by VAR – because of an offside against Denzil Dumfries, who was said to blocking the path of France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
I think France have been very fortunate. When you see the angle from behind the goal, there is no way the goalkeeper could have dived for the ball given the body position he was in.
Alan Shearer on disallowed goal
Bleus blank again without Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe – mask et al – remained on the France bench this evening despite his teammates finding themselves unable to break the Dutch down.
Since June 2022, the French have failed to win any of their seven games that the forward either hasn’t started or played in at all, drawing five and losing two.
Match stats from Leipzig Stadium
A game that promised much delivered the first goalless draw in 50 European Championship games.
France’s 15 attempts at goal is their most in a major tournament game without scoring since they lost the Euro 2016 final on home soil against Portugal (18).
D draw sends Poles packing
This evening’s goalless draw has edged both Netherlands and France towards the knockout stage, but at the same time has ensured that Poland are the first country to be eliminated from this Championship.
Any of the top three can still top the group, and it will be all on the line in Tuesday’s showdowns.
- Netherlands v Austria (Tuesday, 5pm)
- France v Poland (Tuesday, 5pm)
Credit: uefa.com Full time – Netherlands 0-0 France
Anthony Taylor calls time in Leipzig, and Euro 2024 has its first goalless draw.
France made most of the running, but the game will be remembered for the controversial decision to rule out Xavi Simons’ goal for an offside against Denzil Dumfries.
Netherlands 0-0 France
90+2. This game is limping towards its conclusion.
Kante and Weghorst have shots blocked at either end, but neither team are committing men forward at this late stage.
Netherlands 0-0 France
90. Swedish fourth official Glenn Nyberg – surely desperate to distance himself from his English colleagues – holds up the electronic board to signal five minutes of added time.
Netherlands 0-0 France
88. Rabiot breaks free down the left flank! Is this the moment?
The midfielder has Coman charging through the middle, and will pick him out for the winner if he gets the cross right…
IF he gets the cross right.
IF.
Sigh. He curls it out for a throw-in on the far side instead.
Netherlands 0-0 France
86. Frenchman Arsene Wenger is spotted in the crowd, having been at the Ukraine v Slovakia game in Dusseldorf earlier today.
He’s getting around more than that England fan who is always front and centre of any party atmosphere.
Netherlands 0-0 France
84. As William Saliba shows a touch of class on the ball, the Opta nerds have been in touch to tell us that none of the last 50 games at the European Championship have finished goalless since England’s draw with Scotland at Euro 2020.
It’s funny, but living in Glasgow, I’m always led to believe that Scotland won 0-0 that night at Wembley.
Netherlands 0-0 France
82. Giroud attempts to roll back the years, but the substitute is off target with his effort.
He won’t be adding to the 57 goals scored for his country just yet.
Netherlands 0-0 France – Netherland substitution
80. Ten minutes to go. Ten minutes to find a goal that stops this from becoming the first goalless encounter of Euro 2024.
Goalscoring hero from the last game, Wout Weghorst is now on for Memphis Depay.
Netherlands 0-0 France
78. The Dutch test the French defence with a couple of set-pieces.
Both sides are plugging away, but – in truth – the game has lost the momentum that was building up before the lengthy VAR interference.
Netherlands 0-0 France – France double substitution
75. Two attacking changes for Les Bleus, but neither involve Kylian Mbappe.
Kinsgley Coman and Olivier Giroud have been sent into the action at the expense of Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Thuram.
Netherlands 0-0 France – Netherlands triple substitution
74. With everyone attempting to regain their composure, Ronald Koeman takes this moment to make some changes.
He sends on Lutsharel Geertruida, Joey Veerman and Georginio Wijnaldum for Jeremie Frimpong, Jerdy Schouten and the ever-so unfortunate Xavi Simons.
Netherlands 0-0 France
73. The goal remains disallowed!
The Netherlands players cannot believe, and – I reckon – when they see the replays, their indignation will be that much greater.
A cruel, controversial moment.
Netherlands 0-0 France
72. BBC co-commentator Jermaine Jenas is not amused.
“Trust us to take so long with the decision,” he moans. “All tournament we’ve seen VAR being used really quickly.”
Meanwhile, Xavi Simons is close to tears at the thought of his goal being chalked off.
Netherlands 0-0 France
71. The check is still going on.
The linesman’s flag went up against Denzel Dumfries, who was clearly standing in an offside position.
But the question is was he interfering with Mike Maignan’s ability to get to the ball? He certainly doesn’t seem to be in the goalkeeper’s eyeline.
Netherlands 0-0 France
69. Against the run of play, Netherlands takes the lead!!
After Memphis Depay’s shot on the turn is blocked by the feet of Mike Maignan, Xavi Simons powers the ball into the net from the edge of the area.
Wild scenes from those in orange, but wait…
…wait…
…the offside flag is up on the near side!
The Dutch are devastated, but there is a VAR check going on.
Over to you, Stuart Attwell.
Netherlands 0-0 France
67. Another chance comes and goes for Les Bleus.
This time it’s Dembele that powers a snapshot wide.
Netherlands 0-0 France
65. Griezmann! Must be! No!
Kante quickly feeds the perfect pass back into the area after the Netherlands had panic-cleared away from Dembele.
On the move, the France captain takes a tidy first touch at the near post, and then pulls his effort wide as he falls off balance.
France are knocking on the door.
Netherlands 0-0 France
63. Close!
France keep the second phase of Dembele’s corner alive, finding Kounde in space on the right.
The defender whips a beauty back in the box to where Tchouameni powers a head just over the crossbar.
Netherlands 0-0 France
62. Dembele tries to gee up the French fans after winning a corner in front of them at that end of the stadium.
He’s met with an appreciative response, and all of a sudden there’s a bit of zip about Les Bleus.
Netherlands 0-0 France
60. We’ve hit the hour mark in Leipzig with still no goals and still no changes in personnel.
Thuram tries to change that with a snapshot just wide of the target.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
