Netherlands and France battled to the first goalless draw at the 2024 European Championship tournament in Group D on Friday evening.
The French named star captain Kylian Mbappe on the bench after he didn't finish the win over Austria because of a broken nose with Aurelien Tchouameni installed, as the Netherland showed one change too from the win over Poland where Joey Veerman dropped out for Jeremie Frimpong.
Frimpong came in the matter of minutes of kick-off to make the breakthrough from a run in to the near side to apply a low shot, but Mike Maignan stretchered out to turn behind for a corner-kick.
Les Blues quickly came to live after the near scare and saw a succession of chances involving Adrien Rabiot as well as Antoine Griezmann unsettled the Dutch.
Maignan was stretchered again a few minutes later where intelligent bit of play by Coady Gakpo saw him cut in to the area and curled towards the far corner only for the AC Milan man to parry.
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Unlike the first half, little in the way of clear-cut chances came the way of the respective nations who battled to open up one another as matters remained tight.
Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram did come inches to the deadlock for Les Blues a little to the midway point of the second half when he slammed wide from the edge of the area.
Tchouameni, who have had quiet outing, looked to liven things up through a looping header after meeting a pin-point cross, but unfortunately nodded over.
Netherlands managed the pressure to go ahead in the final 20 minutes as Xavi Simons latched onto a loose ball, but the offside flag went up even after going on review.
Simons then didn't complete the match and was substituted for Veerman before Georginio Wijnaldum and Lutsharel Geertruida entered too.
Amidst the bright moments either end, the opener continued to elude the respective nations who at the end of it all shared the spoils.