Netherlands vs France: Stalemate Leaves Door Open at EURO 2024

The Netherlands and France played out a goalless draw in their Group D clash at the Leipzig Stadium, leaving both teams with four points each and a strong chance of advancing to the next round. This was the first goalless draw at the European Championship since England drew with Scotland at Euro 2020, ending a run of 50 games with at least one goal scored.

Tactical Insights

The Netherlands started with a young team, with an average age of 27 years and 39 days, their second-youngest starting XI at the European Championship this century. France, on the other hand, fielded Antoine Griezmann in the forward line, who has now started each of France’s last 11 games at the European Championship. Despite missing Kylian Mbappé due to injury, France failed to score despite mustering 14 shots in the game, their biggest haul without finding the back of the net in a major tournament game since the Euro 2016 final against Portugal.

Key Moments

The game saw a debatable disallowed goal for the Netherlands when Xavi Simons scored, only for the goal to be ruled offside. This decision seemed to deflate the Dutch team, and they failed to create any significant scoring opportunities in the second half.

Impact on the Group

The draw leaves both teams in a strong position to advance to the next round. France and the Netherlands are currently leading the group with four points each, followed by Austria with three points, and Poland unable to progress with zero points. The final group games will see France face Poland, and the Dutch will take on Austria, with both teams looking to secure their spots in the last 16.

Conclusion

The Netherlands vs France match was a tactical battle with both teams unable to break the deadlock. The draw highlights the importance of Kylian Mbappé for France, who has not started a game for France at a major tournament since the 2018 World Cup. The final group games will be crucial in determining the fate of these teams, with both looking to secure their spots in the next round.

The Bad Tackle

There was really not much to talk about this match. Both team showed tactical skills. Skills that cancelled each other out. One of these teams could possibly regret the result after the third round of matches are played.