June 21, (THEWILL) – In a closely contested Euro 2024 Group D match, the Netherlands and France played out a goalless draw at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena. The result leaves Group D wide open, with both teams vying for top spot.
The match was not without controversy, as Xavi Simons thought he had given the Netherlands the lead 20 minutes from time. However, VAR intervened, ruling that Denzel Dumfries was in an offside position and interfering with French goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s ability to make a save. The goal was subsequently disallowed, much to the disappointment of the Dutch supporters.
France, despite their recent dominance in head-to-head encounters, struggled to assert themselves in the early stages. Antoine Griezmann missed two gilt-edged chances, including what may be considered the miss of the tournament from just six yards out. The French attack, led by Marcus Thuram in the absence of Kylian Mbappé, continued to apply pressure throughout the second half but failed to find a breakthrough.
The Netherlands, buoyed by a strong start, came close to taking an early lead through Jeremie Frimpong. However, Maignan’s fingertip save denied the Dutch an early advantage. As the match progressed, both teams struggled to maintain their early intensity, resulting in a cagey affair with few clear-cut opportunities.
The draw marks the first goalless encounter between these two nations since 2004. With France set to face group underdogs Poland in their final match, they may feel they have the upper hand in taking the top spot. However, the Netherlands will be eager to bounce back and challenge for group supremacy in their remaining fixture against Austria.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
