France and the Netherlands both played it safe and battled to a 0-0 draw in Euro 2024 Group D on Friday. That result left both sides within sight of reaching the last 16, while knocking out last-placed Poland.
Dutch and French players in action during their Euro 2024 group stage match in Leipzig, Germany, June 21, 2024. /CFP
French captain Kylian Mbbape remained on the bench after suffering a broken nose in their opener. Both sides wasted chances and enjoyed periods of relative control. But neither team managed to find a breakthrough and eventually seemed happy to settle for a point. The one moment of drama came with 20 minutes left. Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons thought he had given the Netherlands the lead, but Denzel Dumfries was judged to have interfered with French goalkeeper Mike Maignan, and the strike was disallowed following a long VAR check.
Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann wasted two chances for France. The draw left the two sides level on four points at the top of Group D. After the match, French coach Didier Deschamps said he would have preferred to score but was still glad that his side had some opportunities, while his Dutch counterpart, Ronald Koeman, felt that the effort by Simons should have been allowed to stand.
The result meant that Poland became the first team to be eliminated from Euro 2024 after falling to Austria 3-1 earlier in Group D. After losing their first two games to the Netherlands and Austria, Poland's chances of advancing to the knockout phase already looked bleak before the late draw between the French and Dutch teams confirmed their early exit.
In other action, Ukraine came alive in the nick of time, with Roman Yaremchuk's late strike completing a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Slovakia in Group E.