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It was the first-ever goalless match in the history of the competition as the Netherlands and France fought to a goalless draw in a highly anticipated Euro 2024 Group D match at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. A shared point at the end of the encounter left the group's qualifying prospects evenly balanced. The game was marked by intense periods of attacking prowess and defensive resilience from both sides.
The Netherlands pressed hard from the outset of the match in an attempt to take advantage of their home advantage. Jeremie Frimpong and Xavi Simons combined nicely in midfield to generate openings for Memphis Depay and company as they tested the French defense in the first few minutes. The Dutch backline was threatened by the quick counter attacks launched by France, spearheaded by Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, down the wings.
#Berlin #fanzone #Euro2024#Netherlands vs #France – Euro 2024
— Tetova News (@TetovaNews1) June 21, 2024
Fanzonen in Berlin nach #Gewitter wieder geöffnet#Nederland #Frankrijk #PaysBas pic.twitter.com/VhxOAIOODv
In the fourteenth minute, Adrien Rabiot got space in the box and decided to pass to Griezmann, whose shot was stopped, giving France their first real opportunity. Bart Verbruggen, the Dutch goalkeeper, maintained his composure and turned away Griezmann's following attempts to tie the score.
Both teams were tied at zero goals at the completion of the first half. The Dutch defense, which was led by Virgil Van Dijk and Nathan Ake, frequently prevented France's attempts to convert possession into clear-cut opportunities, while the Netherlands displayed rapid transitions and creative play in the final third.
As the second half began, France's offensive efforts increased, aided by the entrance of Marcus Thuram and the persistent midfield work of Aurelien Tchouameni and N'Golo Kante. Their exquisite passing and movement threw off the Dutch defense, with Dembele and Griezmann going close to breaking the tie on multiple occasions.
Netherlands vs. France gave us the first scoreless game at EURO 2024 đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/jj0i7nEqDm
— theScore (@theScore) June 21, 2024
The critical moment came in the 69th minute, when Xavi Simons thought to have scored for the Netherlands, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call on Dumfries, who was deemed to have blocked the French goalie. This contentious verdict sparked controversy among fans and analysts alike, emphasizing the razor-thin margins that can decide games at this level.
Both teams tried their hardest to score the winning goal as the timer ran out. The Netherlands' tenacious defense withstood France's late efforts through Rabiot, Griezmann, and Coman to ensure a tie in the match.
After two games in Group D, the Netherlands and France are now tied with four points apiece following this draw. With both teams still in the running to win the group and clinch an advantageous route through the knockout stages, the outcome leaves the group wide open going into the last round of matches.
This is Virgil van Dijk on 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 disallowed Dutch goal 🗣️#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/7c3BrCWvfX
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 21, 2024
In order to build on their strong start and guarantee a spot in the next round, the Netherlands will next take on their last group stage test. Prior to their pivotal match, France will reorganize and plan, aware that a win might propel them to the top of the group.
