Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
June 21 – It wasn’t a classic but it was certainly an entertaining and full blooded encounter as the two big dogs in Group D, France and the Netherlands, squared off in Leipzig to share the points in a 0-0 draw.
The Dutch will feel aggrieved that Xavi Simons strike from outside the box was ruled out by VAR, but relieved that they withstood France’s attack for the crucial point that virtually guarantees the top two a spot in the next round.
All the talk before the match had been about the condition of Kylian Mbappe’s nose and whether he would play. In the end he remained on the bench as his team controlled the bulk of possession but failed to make it count.
Without Mbappe they are a very less potent force, but this was a much better performance than their opener against Austria which they squeaked through 1-0 after an Austrian own goal.
The game started at pace with both sides looking hungry for goals. In the fourth minute Anton Griezman tested Dutch keeper Bart Verburggen with a shot from outside the box that he palmed over.
Jeremie Frimpong shoots under pressure from William Saliba
On eight minutes Memphis Depay called for a penalty as he was wrestled over in the box. It set the tone for a half that at times was physically uncompromising as both teams played at pace.
On 13 minutes France should have been a goal up. With both Adrien Rabiot and Greizman behind the Dutch defence, 3m out, they somehow contrived to miss as Rabiot poked the ball just behind Greizman rather than firing in.
A minute later Greizman, captain for the night, scooped the ball left footed over the corner of the goal.
At the other end Cody Gapko forced a save from Mike Maignan low to his left.
It was end to end. Thuram broke the Dutch offside line but fired his shot over, while the Dutch counter attacks failed to find the killer ball in the final third.
With France slowly gaining the ascendancy, Virgil van Dyke brought the constantly threatening Ousmane Dembele down on the edge…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/21/netherlands-battle-scoreless-draw-france-var-rules-simons-goal/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-06-21 22:14:25
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