Netherlands vs France live updates (2024)

This is my favourite thing about Deschamps’ France — they just don’t care how they win.

No tactical utopia he’s aiming for (unlike a certain Luis Enrique). His 2024 team can play just like they did in 2018.

Every tournament they look a little different, perhaps best encapsulated by Antoine Griezmann. Once a pure No 10 for his country, then a deeper midfielder, now possibly back to that (unless Deschamps sticks him out wide).

There were thunderstorms in Leipzig earlier this afternoon, which cleared the oppressive air but it's still pretty muggy inside the stadium.

A definite temperature increase to France's first game in Dusseldorf.

Only William Saliba of the French starters is in a long sleeved top as they warm up on the far touchline opposite the dugouts.

French fans are cooler cats, and there is no herding them. But they were in high spirits as they queued to get in the ground.

They also seem to be more into fancy dress than the Dutch. I saw several Napoleons, lots of co*ckerels and an Obelix.

Huge station, pretty buildings, nice vibe. Lots of cool people zipping about on bikes, scooters and skateboards. An unusually high number of people on stilts, too.

We had a big burst of rain earlier — a nightmare for the stilt-walkers — and there might be another shower before kickoff. But it's still pretty warm...

It’s only a slight rejig from Ronald Koeman for the Netherlands too, but it will be interesting to see what it means for the 4-3-3.

Jeremie Frimpong coming in on the right means a potentially deeper role for Xavi Simons — or maybe a different role.

We will see.

So, Deschamps decides to roll back the clock and set-up like it's 2018.

With Kylian Mbappe unable to start, he has opted for Adrien Rabiot as an auxiliary left-midfielder — similar to how Blaise Matuidi flanked Les Bleus to the World Cup in Russia — while Aurelien Tchouameni returns to partner N'Golo Kante in the middle.

It is very unexpected, particularly with more comfortable wingers to choose from like Kingsley Coman, Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo-Muani.

Expect Antoine Griezmann to play a more advanced role, and Ousmane Dembele to be a little more liberated from his defensive responsibilities.

So here it is. With Mbappe only fit enough for the bench after his broken nose, Antoine Griezmann takes the captain’s armband and looks set to start on the left of Deschamps’ front three with Thuram moving central.

Tchouameni comes into Griezmann’s midfield spot on the right.

The rest is unchanged, with Saliba set to continue as the left-sided centre-back — the opposite side to his more regular role with Arsenal.

And here is the starting XI named by France boss Didier Deschamps to take on the Netherlands — with the big news that MBAPPE DOESN’T MAKE THE XI:

• Mike Maignan (AC Milan) // Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) // Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus) // Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter), Antoine Griezmann Capt (Atletico Madrid).

Tchouameni it is who comes in for Mbappe, with Griezmann taking the captaincy and likely playing higher up — but we will see.

Cue the teams, here in Leipzig. Here is the confirmed Netherlands starting XI from Ronald Koeman for this afternoon’s clash with France:

• Bart Verbruggen (Brighton) // Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Stefan de Vrij (Inter), Virgil van Dijk Capt (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City) // Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen) // Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool).

It’s one change, with PSV’s Joey Veerman making way for Frimpong.

We’ve not got long until the two teams are confirmed ahead of kick-off here in Leipzig.

We’ll bring you those XIs — and analysis of them — as soon as we get them. Don’t go anywhere.

France head coach Didier Deschamps was happy enough with the result, while saw issues that will have addressed in the days leading up to tonight’s game:

💬 “It’s never easy to get a win against a team that has athletic qualities and puts a lot of pressure on. We could have dealt with certain situations better on the first or second ball, but overall we performed well.

“We had quality as well as talent, and there was good solidarity among the players. We need to keep that up. I’m satisfied with this opening win.”

Antoine Griezmann had a difficult evening, having been barged into the Visit Qatar advertising hoardings right at the start of the second half, landing headfirst on the solid screen and drawing blood.

He re-emerged not long afterwards with a huge bandage around his head which, surprisingly given the amount of material committed to it, lasted about a minute before it was discarded onto the (increasingly patchy) turf.

He ended up with blood all over his right knee, which was evident during replays of an incident where his left leg buckled after being fallen on by Patrick Wimmer.

He shrugged it all off to continue to the 90th minute though, and can be sure of another battle against the Netherlands tonight.

It is not unusual for France to start tournaments sluggishly. Even when they won the World Cup in 2018, they opened with a slightly fortuitous win against hard-working opposition — and the critics were sharp.

France began looking muddled against Austria and needed some time to find a rhythm. One of the reasons they lacked some balance and cohesion is that quite a number of players were positioned in an irregular role.

Trying Thuram (centre-forward for Inter Milan) and Mbappe (so often stationed on the left) in reverse roles was not particularly fluid.

But the biggest challenge was for William Saliba, who is used to being the right-hand man of the central defensive pair but has to shift over to the left. His body shape was affected by that, and it created a touch of hesitancy.

Has he done enough to merit another chance? Only Deschamps knows the answer to that one and the rest of us will find out when the teams are announced today.

He has seen his team grow into tournaments often enough.

There is no such thing as a quiet outing for Kylian Mbappe.

It seems incredible that he won his 80th cap — veteran’s numbers — yet we still look at him in wonder. That fierce pace was the difference for France, even during a match when he must have wondered how he did not score. It took pressure off his team when they were suffering against the intensity of Austria’s manic pressers.

The thing about Mbappe being the centre of attention is that you can’t take your eyes off him for a split second.

France’s front section looks like it needs work. The blend of Mbappe, flanked by Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Thuram with Antoine Griezmann floating behind, was not tasty enough. Moving forward they will want better decision making, more fluency, and a creative swagger.

Mbappe started the night surrounded by giddy mascots who appeared not to notice there were 21 other players. He ended the night with a bloody, broken nose after a collision with Danso.

Leading the responsibility for your nation can be a painful business.

Let’s switch our build-up focus to France now. They began their Euro 2024 campaign with a tight 1-0 win over Austria, and Kylian Mbappe’s night ending in a bloody mess and a broken nose.

Mbappe failed to hit the target all night, but there was more than just that to dissect.

Here’s what our own Amy Lawrence, Sam Lee and Mark Carey made of the action in Dusseldorf on Monday.

Here’s one to subscribe to. The Daily Football Briefing is your morning podcast hit inside 10 minutes every day from The Athletic.

This morning’s episode reflected on:

• Just how good Spain were against Italy.
• The fact they were as good as England were bad.
• Plus: What happened in the opening game at Copa America?

Enjoy the fun with Iain Macintosh every morning throughout the summer tournaments and beyond — and you can subscribe on your chosen podcast player right here.

It’s been a fun first half in Berlin, as the opening Group D match of this second matchday sees Poland face Austria.

And it was a fast start from Ralf Rangnick’s side too, who took the lead after just nine minutes through a wonderful header from Feyenoord’s Gernot Trauner.

But Poland worked their way back into the game and were level on the half-hour mark, as Krzysztof Piatek fired home a loose ball in the Austria box.

You can follow the second half of that one live with Darren Richman and our correspondents, right here.

I’ll also bring you how it finishes at the Olympiastadion in here a bit later.

As the Dutch national anthem Wilhelmus played before the Netherlands’ 2-1 win against Poland, their supporters behind the goal held up banners depicting various stages of Marco van Basten’s famous winning goal at Euro 88 — perhaps the most celebrated single hit of a football in the history of the game.

That is the only time the Netherlands have won a tournament — and that tournament was hosted in Germany. The Dutch are hoping this proves a lucky omen.

But even the most optimistic Dutch fan isn’t pretending there’s anything like Van Basten in the current side…

And it could be that Wout Weghorst is managed by a former big striker who also excelled for the Netherlands.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has held talks with Burnley and is in the frame to become the club’s new head coach.

The club are searching for their successor to Vincent Kompany, who was appointed as Bayern Munich head coach last month despite Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League.

Whether that would be enough to signal Weghorst’s stay at Turf Moor for next season? That may be a question for another day.