Key events
67 min: Upamecano gets France moving forward again. It’s all hands on deck in the Dutch defence. Dembele whacks a left-footed shot over from inside the area. Deschamps clasps his head in his hands and roars in frustration on the bench. Is it just one of those nights?
65 min: WHAT?! France are in again. A stunningly perceptive flick by Thuram on the edge of the area puts Dembele in. Then it’s with Kante, and Griezmann is teed up by a fine pass from the former Chelsea man. He has the ball and a chance to shoot from point-blank range at the far post … but he fluffs it again! In fact it’s a save by Verbruggen. But that really, really should be 1-0 France.
64 min: “More than one preview noted that these two teams had two of the best defences in the tournament,” emails Kári Tulinius. “And this has very much been that kind of match.”
63 min: Chance France! Kounde, who has been very good, whips in a fine cross from the right. It’s that man again, Tchouameni, who leaps to head the ball goalwards from a central position … but it flashes narrowly over the crossbar! That was more like it.
60 min: Thuram belts a shot from the edge. It goes wide. Simons and Tchouameni then go shoulder to shoulder in midfield but there are some studs flying around too. Simons goes down in a heap. He looks in pain. What’s the ref given? Free kick to France, I think? Odd.
59 min: Kante sprints down the France left. He cuts back and passes to Tchouameni. The Real Madrid man hits a speculative shot from distance that – yes, you guessed right – goes out for a throw-in. And thus, the person writing the MBM is obliged to write: that moment sums up the match so far.
57 min: What’s going on right now? On the pitch, not a massive amount, in truth. The fans are cheerfully making plenty of noise but the entertainment on show isn’t really the kind of thing to get you out of your seat. Or off your sofa. There is still time …
55 min: Depay crashes the free-kick into the wall.
53 min: Simons looks to inject some pace and play a smart give and go on the left. It turns out just to be a give, but that buys space for Ake to advance down into the left corner. However, there is no option in the middle for the Dutch … they keep the ball well enough and Simons, who looks lively early in the second half, wins a free-kick in a dangerous area, central and just outside the area.
52 min: Kante of France has a sight of goal from distance. He fires a poor shot that is always rising over the crossbar. Deschamps appears to be chewing his nails on the bench.
52 min: France attack. Netherlands defend. Now the Dutch come again with Frimpong sliding a good-looking pass infield looking for Depay from the right. France deal with it.
50 min: Frimpong catches Hernandez as the French defender looks to play a pass back to his keeper. Free-kick. This match is stubbornly refusing to become truly entertaining.
48 min: Saliba feeds Kante in central midfield. The Frenchman has a surprising amount of space to turn and time to pick a pass. He looks for Rabiot with an angled but the ball squirts out for a throw to the Netherlands.
47 min: Dembele has Ake on toast down the French right. French toast? He just kicks the ball past him and runs. Simple stuff, although he overruns it, and the ball rolls out for a goal kick.
Second half kick-off!
Will we see Kylian at some stage?
No changes from either manager at half time.
Brilliant orange. But can their team get them a result?
“Always good to hear mention of Neil Pointon,” emails Simon Frank. “His nickname, Dissa, is in the top one.”
Why not take a look at Ben Fisher’s report of Austria’s win against Poland:
And Jacob Steinberg on England:
Plus! Barney Ronay on England:
Half time: Netherlands 0-0 France
Neither side has been very good, let’s face it. France have been efficient and a bit niggly and cynical. The Netherlands have shown flashes in attack, and the selection of Frimpong by Koeman looks a good one: he’s been a threat on their right wing, and probably should have made more of that chance in the very first minute.
Anyway, we live in hope that the second half delivers in style.
45 min: One minute added. This has not been a classic thus far.
44 min: Depay is wearing a thick white headband. I should have told you that earlier really. Anyway, the teams look ready for half-time oranges. Ake slips and commits a handball somewhere near midfield. Cheshire’s Anthony Taylor is only too happy to blow his whistle, as per.
43 min: “Jerdy Schouten – I’d not heard of him before, but it’s a shame he wasn’t around at the time of Neil Pointon, one of Manchester City’s greats from the 1990s,” emails Charles Antaki. “The combination of Pointon and Schouten in midfield would be unbeatable. Or unignorable anyway.”
Like it, Charles.
42 min: A few drinks are thrown at Griezmann by Dutch fans when he goes to take the corner. No need for that. The France captain hits a poor corner and it’s cut out at the near post.
41 min: Griezmann belts the free-kick straight at the wall. De Vrij leaps and heads it out for a corner …
40 min: Now Van Dijk fouls Dembele on the edge of the Dutch area. Dembele makes a big fuss about it – but it is a foul. Danger for the Netherlands from this set-piece. He’s gonna flick one …
39 min: Griezmann bends in the set-piece. Van Dijk is on hand to clear with his head. Upamecano then miscontrols and coughs up a throw for France. On the bench, Deschamps is pictured deep in conversation, somewhat concerned with events on the pitch.
38 min: Schouten finds Frimpong, hugging the touchline, with a good pass. But Reijnders then loses it, and France can counter quickly. Thuram is fouled and France have a free-kick in a handy position not far from the Dutch penalty area.
36 min: Netherlands come again: Simons has a sight of goal from outside the area, but hits a limp shot straight at Maignan.
35 min: Griezmann loses it in midfield. Frimpong again finds himself bearing down on the French defence. He drifts outside and hits a right-footed shot but Saliba defends it expertly, easily getting in position to block the effort.
33 min: There are times when the pace of this game drops significantly but we can be sure that a draw suits neither team. The Dutch must play Austria next, who have been very impressive, while France will meet a Poland team desperate to make some impact on the tournament if nothing else.
31 min: Schouten is booked for a foul on Griezmann in the centre circle as the two got shoulder to shoulder. That is a blatant dive from Griezmann as far as I can see. Schouten wags his finger as the Frenchman goes down, warning the referee that his opponent has bought the free-kick … but he goes in the book anyway. Poor refereeing in my view.
29 min: Another free-kick for a supposed foul on Griezmann this time.
27 min: Kounde, whose passing and crossing is a big threat from full-back, plays an excellent angled ball over the top from the French right. Thuram runs on to it – and he’s in so much space he looks offside – but on replay is shown to have timed his run perfectly. No matter because he hits a poor shot that flies over the crossbar from an angle.
26 min: Gakpo, Frimpong and Depay are suddenly running at the France back line. Koeman is looking to use their pace on the counterattack which is entirely sensible. Gakpo drifts inside with the ball and tries to find Depay with a pacy pass to the right. But it’s a naff effort and goes out for a corner. That was a decent injection of pace from the men in orange, however.
25 min: Rabiot is fouled now with the Netherlands in a promising position. Anthony Taylor’s being a bit fussy for my liking and breaking up the rhythm of the game by awarding regular free-kicks.
23 min: The tempo drops a touch. The Netherlands have a free kick though, not far inside the France half, which is launched to the back post in a crowded box by Depay. Dumfries gets his noggin on it, but only succeeds in sending it out for a goal kick. The fans, meanwhile, are making a large amount of noise and very much enjoying their evening.
22 min: Permutations wise, if this is a draw, Poland are out.
20 min: France are now the team stroking a few passes around, although they work the ball back and play it around the back four. Griezmann comes deep to coordinate an attack. Thuram takes a lofted pass down well with expert ease, but then Rabiot belts a long cross out for a goal kick.
18 min: Now it’s France’s turn again. Kante is involved in a slick counter. France win a corner. De Vrij gets rid.
17 min: We’re warming up now. Gakpo cuts in from the Dutch left and cracks a curling shot that is destined for the bottom corner. Maignan gets down to his left and beats it out – an excellent save. The resulting corner is wasted. It’s threatening to really spark into life any moment, this match …
14 min: Gynormous France chance! Rabiot is suddenly one on one with Verbruggen after a nice flick by Thuram on the edge of the box. He’s on the edge of the six-yard box and surely has to shoot? But he tries to square it for Griezmann. Griezmann in turn completely fluffs his shot, falling over as he does so … the Dutch can half clear but France immediately come again. Kante tees up Griezmann and he bends a shot from close range wide of the near post. Two big let offs for the Netherlands.
13 min: Kounde bends an excellent delivery in from the French right wing. Griezmann is there to meet it: but a superb defensive header by Reijnders sees him flick the ball to safety.
11 min: Now Dumfries makes a searching run from full-back down the Dutch right. Saliba is fouled and wins a free-kick. France have been quiet, and without Mbappé they do lack that constant threat on the counter. Can the front three selected by Deschamps step up?
10 min: The Dutch are moving the ball nicely and keeping possession. They play around in an advanced area while France assume the defensive position and close space down efficiently. Koeman will be pleased with the composure his side are showing on the ball.
8 min: The Netherlands come again. Depay is fed by Simons to feet on the penalty spot. He has his back to goal: Saliba is man-marking him and Depay tries to turn to his left and claims he’s fouled. The referee, Taylor, demonstratively waves the penalty claim away. Muscular defending by Saliba.
6 min: Simons does well on the Dutch left wing to nab possession and race down the wing into the France half. But he’s dispossessed efficiently by Upamecano. France have settled into the game after a big early scare with that chance for Frimpong.