4 min: France hit back immediately. Rabiot is played through on the left wing by Dembele, but lacks support and cuts back for Griezemann. The captain belts a decent dipping shot from the edge of the area. It’s tipped over by Verbruggen for a French corner.
Defences remained on top before Xavi Simons’ strike for the Netherlands was controversially disallowed for offside
Updated
Fri 21 Jun 2024 17.23 EDT
First published on Fri 21 Jun 2024 13.30 EDT
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Key events
3 min: France repel the corner but that was a big early scare. The pace of Frimpong was a huge factor in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title win.
1 min: Big chance for Netherlands right away! Frimpong roars through down the right after a ball is clipped through from midfield, I think by Schouten. The winger advances into the penalty area and hits a shot from an angle which lacks conviction … but he wins a corner anyway as the ball rolls out off Maignan’s glove.
First half kick-off!
Go!
Anyway, let’s do this. The Netherlands will kick off.
Did Lineker just say that if it’s a draw tonight, both these teams are through? Incorrect if so. But maybe I imagined it.
Here we go then. Anthems done. Team photos taken. France are sporting that lovely striped white away kit. The Netherlands are wearing orange, which is only right. Anthony Taylor is the referee.
They love a party, the Dutch.
𝗟𝗘𝗜𝗣𝗭𝗜𝗚 = 𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗝𝗘! 🧡#NothingLikeOranje #CreateHistory pic.twitter.com/bg2exR18QE
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 21, 2024
The teams were in the tunnel … now they’re on the pitch.
“My hopes are that the Netherlands will beat France 4-1 like in 2008,” writes David. “My fears are that they’ll lose 1-0 in a boring match while also playing in a dirty, ill-tempered manner as has happened too often in recent years (see 2010 World Cup final against Spain). I want to see them play the exciting style we expect from the Dutch team.”
“I don’t have a TV or a streaming subscription, BBC Radio live coverage is geoblocked here in Canada and local radio is not broadcasting it this year,” emails Ruby.
“Luckily I speak French so I’m listening to a radio stream from France. Ergo, my biggest worry is that one of the breathless French commentators might have a stroke mid-call.”
Bien!
Fabregas reckons France will play 4-2-3-1 and not 4-3-3. That would mean Thuram up top presumably. We’ll see.
A mention for Kante, by the way, who was exceptional in the opening win against Austria. “Thrillingly zesty,” wrote Barney Ronay:
These fan photos are too good.
A bit of pre-match reading, anyone? You got it:
What are your expectations, thoughts, hopes and fears? Email me.
Cesc Fàbregas, Wayne Rooney and Big Alan Shearer join Gary Lineker in the BBC studio this evening. Insight aplenty I am sure.
Ben Fisher is in Berlin, and witnessed the latest flop at a major tournament by Robert Lewandowski and Poland:
Or indeed France 2-3 Netherlands from alllllll the way back in 2000.
Those were the days, weren’t they? Or are these, in fact, the days?
Who remembers France 1-4 Netherlands from back in 2008?
Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder with the goals. Classic.
France supporters are out in force too, naturellement.
Dutch fans: Bringing colour to the tournament since who knows when.
In mask/fashion news, Mbappé can be seen wearing a plain black protective mask in the image below, as opposed to the branded France number that has also been bandied about.
It’s always interesting when a player with the status and gravitas of Mbappé is forced to drop out of a side. Perhaps it’ll free the rest of them up a bit, and give the likes of Thuram and Dembele a chance to shine a bit more?
Big Ron has arrived:
🧳 @RonaldKoeman #NothingLikeOranje #NEDFRA pic.twitter.com/RqZ8bjv7ky
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 21, 2024
Teams
A masked Mbappé is named among the France substitutes. Didier Deschamps makes one change, with Aurelien Tchouameni coming in to the starting lineup, so not a straight swap for Mbappé. Marcus Thuram will play in a front three with Antoine Griezmann, who captains the side in Mbappé’s absence, and Ousmane Dembélé.
There is also one change for the Netherlands, made by the head coach Ronald Koeman: Jeremie Frimpong, so impressive all season for Bayer Leverkusen, comes into the starting lineup with Joey Veerman benched.
Netherlands (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Simons, Reijnders; Frimpong, Depay, Gakpo. Substitutes: Geertruida, de Ligt, Wijnaldum, Weghorst, Bijlow, van de Ven, Veerman, Blind, Malen, Brobbey, Maatsen, Zirkzee, Flekken, Bergwijn, Gravenberch.
France (4-3-3): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Thuram. Substitutes: Samba, Pavard, Mendy, Camavinga, Giroud, Mbappe, Muani, Zaire Emery, Fofana, Coman, Clauss, Areola, Konate, Barcola.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Austria’s win means there are now three teams on three points in Group D:
France have Netherlands and Poland left to play, then, and they’ll face a Poland desperate for a win in trying to avoid yet another limp tournament exit.
Austria have beaten Poland 3-1:
Will Mbappé play? We’ll know the lineups in 10 minutes or so.
It’s all distinctly reminiscent of Antoine Dupont at the Rugby World Cup:
MP pour un code promo @KMbappe, j’ai des plans.
— 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗨𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗧 (@Dupont9A) June 18, 2024
Bon courage surtout 💪🇫🇷
Let’s get the reference to Graham Taylor-era England out of the way nice and early. Here’s Paul Gascoigne wearing a protective mask after his cheekbone was broken in a 1994 World Cup qualifer against the Netherlands.
As one would expect, there have been great advances made in mask design and technology since:
Intro
The Group D permutations will become clearer when Poland and Austria have finished in Berlin – more on that soon – but the incontrovertible fact at the time of writing is France and the Netherlands have an opportunity to make it two wins out of two tonight, potentially securing themselves a place in the knockouts.
Permutations aside, this is a simply classic fixture rivalled only by Spain v Italy when it comes to high-stakes, high-quality, high-excitement pool stage encounters at Euro 2024. It’s already shaping up to be a classic tournament; tonight’s prestigious meeting in Leipzig may elevate matters still further.
Kylian Mbappé’s nose has dominated tournament discourse since he broke it in France’s opening win against Austria on Monday but regardless of whether Real Madrid’s latest signing gets a run-out, this promises to be downright unmissable.
Kick-off: 8pm BST. Allez!