France, despite a positive start, missed their star player Kylian Mbappé, who sat out the match with a broken nose. The goalless draw against the Netherlands marked the first such result in this European Championship, highlighting France's struggle to convert opportunities without their talisman. A late VAR decision further added to their woes, ruling out a potential winning goal by Xavi Simons in a close call that extended over two and a half minutes.

France opted not to risk Mbappé, who had not participated in contact training since an incident in the Austria game. The group stage format allowed for some flexibility, but protecting Mbappé from any further injury was crucial for the team and the tournament.

The weather was turbulent in Leipzig, with the stadium predominantly filled with Dutch orange and a hint of French blue. Both teams, already positioned comfortably for the knockout stages, seemed ready for a competitive clash.

Early in the match, the pace was set high. Jeremie Frimpong's speedy run in the first minute resulted in a near miss, as Mike Maignan tipped his effort wide. Moments later, Bart Verbruggen saved a powerful shot from Antoine Griezmann, keeping the scoreline level.

Griezmann, playing in Mbappé’s absence, missed two significant chances within the first fifteen minutes. First, a pass from Adrien Rabiot, set up by Marcus Thuram, led to a stumble and a missed opportunity. Soon after, Griezmann’s shot went just wide, showcasing France's intent but lack of precision.

Dutch coach Ronald Koeman placed his trust in Memphis Depay as the central forward despite Wout Weghorst’s recent goal-scoring form. Depay, with his “Who cares” headband, spearheaded a dynamic attack alongside Cody Gakpo and Frimpong. Gakpo’s attempt forced a fine save from Maignan, and Depay missed a promising counterattack chance.

Thuram had a golden opportunity when Jules Koundé's pass left him in space, but his shot went wide. Both teams exchanged quick breaks, with cheap turnovers fueling the excitement. Frimpong and Simons made attempts for the Netherlands, while Griezmann’s header straight at Verbruggen concluded a lively first half.

Mbappé emerged from the tunnel at halftime, greeting fans before returning to the bench. France missed further chances in the second half, with Rabiot’s off-target attempt and a near-miss from N’Golo Kanté. The Dutch defense, led by Nathan Aké, held firm against increased French pressure.

Aurélien Tchouaméni's header from an Ousmane Dembélé cross was close, and Griezmann missed yet another chance from close range, saved by Verbruggen. Thuram's subsequent shot over the bar added to France’s mounting frustration.

The turning point came when Simons scored, only for VAR to rule it out due to Denzel Dumfries being offside and interfering with Maignan’s view. The decision, led by the Stuart Attwell-led team, was a lengthy one but ultimately deemed correct.

Both teams rotated their lineups as the match drew to a close, with Mbappé remaining on the bench. His presence will be crucial for France in the upcoming stages, as they look to advance further in the tournament.