Netherlands v France LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score after Xavi Simons goal denied by VAR check
Netherlands 0-0 France: Kylian Mbappe watched on from the bench as Simons saw a late strike disallowed for offside and Euro 2024 endured its first goalless draw
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:
Why Wout Weghorst is the ‘English’ contradiction at the heart of the Netherlands team
Ronald Koeman knows what it is like to win a European Championship in Germany. He did so under Rinus Michels, the godfather of Total Football. He won a Champions League under the other architect of the Dutch footballing philosophy, Johan Cruyff. And he won his first European Championship match as a manager thanks to a big, old-fashioned No 9 he threw on. Wout Weghorst is scarcely the heir to Cruyff, the man who was nominally the Netherlands’ centre forward when they reached the final of the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.
But, half a century on, he showed there are different ways of prospering. His goal stemmed from the anticipation of an opening and a smooth finish, rather than brute force, but Koeman underlined his appreciation of the earthier merits Weghorst brings. “Wout is aggressive, he always takes initiative and is a good header as well,” he said. “He has one chance and finds the net.”
If it formed a contrast with the more talented starter Memphis Depay, who squandered three very presentable chances in the 2-1 win over Poland, Koeman is the manager with a purist’s upbringing and a pragmatic streak. “I think every team needs Dutch qualities and also English qualities,” said Koeman, when asked if Weghorst was more of a traditional British centre forward than a classic Dutch attacker. “That makes the team stronger.”
Read Richard Jolly’s full analysis:
Why Wout Weghorst is the ‘English’ contradiction at the heart of the Netherlands team
Coach Ronald Koeman, a face of Dutch football, admitted his side need some ‘English qualities’. Enter Weghorst...
Kylian Mbappe urges youth to vote against ‘extremes’ in French elections
France captain Kylian Mbappe urged “the youth to make a difference” in the country’s upcoming election and in the face of “extremes knocking on the door of power” as Les Bleus’ Euro 2024 opener against Austria came amid a tumultuous political moment back home.
Mbappe addressed the French people during a pre-match press conference following Emmanuel Macron’s shock announcement to call a snap parliamentary election. Macron suffered heavy defeats by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (NR) party in last week’s European Union vote.
With opinion polls suggesting the far-right NR party could top the 30 June and 7 July vote, Mbappe, 25, backed forward Marcus Thuram’s call to “fight daily” to prevent the RN from gaining power. Uefa has rules against teams or players making political statement, but Mbappe did not rule that out.
Kylian Mbappe urges youth to vote against ‘extremes’ in French elections
Emmanuel Macron called a snap election after heavy defeats to the far-right National Rally in last week’s European Union vote, with Marine Le Pen’s party leading opinion polls ahead of the vote
Roy Keane blasts Kylian Mbappé after bloody nose incident: ‘This is out of order’
Roy Keane had limited sympathy for Kylian Mbappe after the French star broke his nose against Austria.
Mbappe was left covered in blood after his head hit the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso following a challenge in the air and France boss Didier Deschamps was then incensed when Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano didn’t allow Les Bleus to make a substitute when the ball next went out of play.
Mbappe then, without permission from the official, re-entered the field of play with a bloody shirt and immediately sat back down. Manzano ran over and booked the France captain, leaving ITV pundit Keane unimpressed with the behaviour.
“He’s gone back on the pitch, whether he’s trying to stop the play, but just sitting on the pitch, I don’t like to see this… this is out of order,” Keane told ITV Sport. “Listen, whether he’s been instructed by the manager to go back, he’s had treatment, he’s come off. To go back on and sit on the pitch, he deserved that yellow card – you don’t like to see it!”
Gary Neville, also on punditry duties, agreed with his former team-mate: “I think he [Mbappe] looks at Deschamps and he’s gone ‘get on’. I think he’ll think he’s let himself down.”
Euro 2024 fixtures: Schedule, results and kick-off times at European Championship
Euro 2024 is upon us, 24 nations having qualified each with a guaranteed three matches to play in the group stage – but a handful of them dreaming of going the distance, hopeful of playing a full seven matches and triumphing in Berlin on 14 July.
Another summer of football action will see the likes of England, Spain, France and hosts Germany all go head to head across the course of a month, each hoping to be the country which displaces Italy as reigning continental champions.
Here is the full schedule for Euro 2024, plus you can see day-by-day fixtures and times (BST) in text form, with the knockout games and reports to be included as the tournament progresses.
Euro 2024 fixtures: Full schedule, results and kick-off times
Every group match to be played in Germany and including planned dates for knockout stages
Follow Slovakia v Ukraine
There are two Euro 2024 games today before we play ball in Leipzig and the first of those is now underway. Slovakia face Ukraine in an intriguing Group E encounter and you can follow along with our blog
Slovakia v Ukraine LIVE: Team news and line-ups ahead of Group E clash at Euro 2024
Ukraine need a result to keep their Euro 2024 dreams alive against a Slovakia side aiming to build on their shock opening win over Belgium
How will France cope without Kylian Mbappe? Four options for Didier Deschamps
Shuffle the pack
Finally, Deschamps does have the option to flick the actual formation of his team, with a couple of systems previously utilised including a three-man midfield and playing a diamond, with two split forwards in attack.
Should he wish to do so, Adrien Rabiot would be the natural options to shift to the left channel, with N’Golo Kante rampaging around breaking up play in the opposite channel. Behind them, that might see Eduardo Camavinga come into the side as an extra defensive shield against the talented Dutch attack.
It feels less likely that Deschamps will make such radical alterations to his team just to overcome one player’s absence, even such a key one as Mbappe, but there’s always the possibility for it as an in-game switch too.
What’s for sure is that no replacement can have the French star’s overall impact across a number of matches - but on a one-off basis for now, they certainly have the options to ensure he’s not missed too much, too soon.
How will France cope without Kylian Mbappe? Four options for Didier Deschamps
Call on experience
We mentioned Thuram earlier as the central starter for France, and while that’s the role he now plays for Inter Milan, in both the Bundesliga and with the national team prior to the last 12 months he was a regular starter from the left himself.
The third option for Deschamps, then, is to push Thuram back out there to replace Mbappe’s driving runs and desire to get into goalscoring positions directly, and then for the vacant No9 spot, bring his most experienced campaigner into the side: Olivier Giroud.
The veteran striker has a good relationship with Antoine Griezmann who plays in behind, has 57 international goals to his name and is well-versed in battling away against established international defenders - which might be handy considering France’s next game is against Netherlands, including Virgil van Dijk.
It feels this might be the option Deschamps considers most strongly, given the aforementioned resistance to gambling, especially this early in the tournament.
How will France cope without Kylian Mbappe? Four options for Didier Deschamps
Unleash the new gen
If Coman’s fitness isn’t there yet for 90 minutes or Deschamps wants a little more build-up play involvement from his left-sided outlet, there is another choice: play Bradley Barcola.
The PSG youngster has had a brilliant breakout season and while he only has two senior caps to Coman’s 56, he looks to have all the tools to be a key part of the French side for years to come.
Wickedly tricky in possession, much more inclined to go for goal than Coman and a more imposing frame on him too, he would be a wildcard pick for a boss who is still seen as somewhat conservative at times.
Randal Kolo Muani can also play left flank, but seems to be used more as a striker late on in games for France and hasn’t had such a good season at club level.
How will France cope without Kylian Mbappe? Four options for Didier Deschamps
Need for Speed
In a more-or-less like for like switch, Kingsley Coman looks the obvious alternative from the opening game’s bench.
The Bayern Munich winger has suffered terribly with injuries but like Mbappe is a fleet-footed ball carrier who is a huge threat on the break, can beat his man one on one and is happy to stretch play by running in behind or hugging the wide areas of the pitch.
Where he cannot match his captain is in goal returns; he’s more of a creator than a scorer - though did net a Champions League final winner, to be fair - and he also doesn’t have the consistency in actually taking shots.
Coman would be very much a wide option rather than a wide forward, but the likes of starting striker Marcus Thuram probably wouldn’t mind that, given it might see more chances aimed his way.
How will France cope without Mbappe? Four options for Deschamps at Euro 2024
A broken nose has the striker’s participation in doubt
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