France and Netherlands Draw, Edge Closer to Euro 2024 Last 16

France and the Netherlands played out a goalless draw in Leipzig, edging closer to the last 16 of Euro 2024. The match lacked the spark of Kylian Mbappe, who sat out due to a broken nose.

Despite the absence of their talisman, France had the better chances. Antoine Griezmann missed two glorious opportunities, while Marcus Thuram and Aurelien Tchouameni also came close. The Dutch, roared on by a large contingent of fans, had a goal controversially ruled out for offside. Xavi Simons fired in the rebound after Mike Maignan saved from Memphis Depay, but Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have interfered with Maignan's line of sight.

The draw leaves both teams level on four points at the top of Group D, one ahead of Austria. France face Poland, while the Netherlands take on Austria in the final games of the section on Tuesday.

France coach Didier Deschamps opted for security in midfield, replacing Mbappe with Tchouameni. Without their captain, the 2022 World Cup finalists looked to Griezmann for inspiration. The stand-in skipper tested Bart Verbruggen from distance but missed a sitter before half-time.

The Dutch had their moments, with Jeremie Frimpong forcing Maignan into an early save. Cody Gakpo also tested the French goalkeeper with a low drive.

In the second half, France continued to create chances. Thuram fired wide from the edge of the area, while Tchouameni headed over. Griezmann was guilty of another big miss when he failed to convert a clear-cut opportunity.

The major talking point of the match was the disallowed Dutch goal. Simons' effort was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check, much to the frustration of the Dutch players and fans.

Deschamps resisted the temptation to risk Mbappe in the closing stages, instead sending on Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman. However, neither side could find a winner, and both teams settled for a point that is likely to be enough to secure their passage to the knockout rounds.

Tags: #Euro2024, #France, #Netherlands, #KylianMbappe, #AntoineGriezmann