France and the Netherlands played out a 0-0 draw in their second Group D game of Euro 2024, a result that all but guaranteed both teams a place in the last 16.
Antoine Griezmann, captaining the side with Kylian Mbappe on the bench after breaking his nose against Austria, had an excellent chance in each half but twice stumbled over the ball.
Both sets of fans had cause to celebrate – the Dutch when Xavi Simons found the net in the second half and the French when the effort was ruled out for offside – and, despite both sides pushing for a winner, they had to be content with a point each.
France and the Netherlands are level on four points at the top of the group standings, with Austria on three, while Poland have no points and cannot advance. France face Poland in their final group game with the Dutch taking on Austria.
Follow all the latest on Mbappe and then updates from the game itself with our blog below:
Euro 2024’s first goalless draw sums up France’s biggest problem
That wasn’t to say this was a bad match. It was often enthralling, although lacked more than the finish and the tournament’s outstanding player. That real impetus wasn’t there. Some of that may have been circumstantial.
Mike Jones21 June 2024 22:16
FT Netherlands 0-0 France
N’Golo Kante has been named Uefa’s official man of the match in both of France’s Euro 2024 games. He hadn’t played for his country in almost two years before featuring in their warm-up friendlies for this tournament.
Mike Jones21 June 2024 22:20
FT Netherlands 0-0 France
Here’s the big moment from the game. Decide for yourselves whether it should have been a goal, it’s easy to see why the officials ruled it out but did they get it right?
Mike Jones21 June 2024 22:12
FT Netherlands 0-0 France
Tonight’s contest ended a run of 50 Euros matches without a goalless draw, stretching back to England facing Scotland at the 2020 edition.
Mike Jones21 June 2024 22:09
FT Netherlands 0-0 France
Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer give their thoughts on the disallowed goal. Rooney said: “There’s no way that should be disallowed, I think it’s a goal and it was frustrating with how long it took.”
Shearer added: “Disappointing in front of goal particularly from a French point of view. They were really poor in front of goal.”
Mike Jones21 June 2024 22:06
FT Netherlands 0-0 France
Here are the thoughts of Alan Shearer on BBC One: “I think France have been very fortunate here. When you see the angle behind the goal.
“The goalkeeper cannot dive for that with the body position he was in.”
Mike Jones21 June 2024 22:03
FT Netherlands 0-0 France
France have not won any of their last seven games in which Kylian Mbappé has not started (5 draws, 2 defeats).
Mike Jones21 June 2024 22:00
FT Netherlands 0-0 France
It seems like a fair though disappointing result for the neutrals. Both teams had changes with France arguably creating the better opportunities to score.
The Netherlands had a goal disallowed but didn’t create much else. A game to forget and move on from for both sides.
Mike Jones21 June 2024 21:57
Full-time! Netherlands 0-0 France
90+5 mins: It’s a draw!
No goals and a point each for France and the Netherlands who both secure passage into the next round. The final standings in Group D are still to be decided but at a minimum the teams will finish as one of the better third place finishers.
Xavi Simons’ second half goal was the closest the game saw to a winner only for VAR to controversially rule it out for offside.
Mike Jones21 June 2024 21:54
Netherlands 0-0 France
90+2 mins: Kante makes a late run into the box and is fed the ball. He looks to shoot but Weghorst sprints back, sticks out a leg and deflects the strike out for a corner.
Nothing comes from the set piece but France have increased the tempo. They’re going for the late goal.
Mike Jones21 June 2024 21:50