If this Euro Cup is revealing something, it is that living in expectation inevitably leads to disappointment. In a tournament in which De la Fuente’s Spain has gone from being suspicious in the prologue to heaping praise after the first two corners, perhaps one of the most striking matches of this first phase was the one that faced the Netherlands and France in Leipzig. And not even the replacement of Kylian Mbappé, who did not need to adjust the mask to protect his fractured nose, explained why the French team continued to cause doubts. In fact, He got rid of a big mess when between the referee and the VAR they denied Xavi Simons the 1-0 20 minutes from the end. Dumfries, in an off-fire position, was next to Maignan when the ball reached the goal, enough for the judges to interpret that he was bothering an already overwhelmed goalkeeper.
The coaches’ precautions had a lot to do with the cracks in the show, much closer to a bureaucratic task in which the two teams looked for the best way to avoid getting hurt. Didier Deschamps, who never deceives his ideals, decided that the gap in the eleven left open by Mbappé should be for midfielder Tchouaméni, who had not played due to injury since May 8. granite in a midfield supported by Kanté, and in which Rabiot had to assume offensive tasks from the left wing. Surreal was the chance he wasted in the first act when, alone at the penalty spot, he decided to give in with all the bad attitude he could to Griezmann, who also failed. The point of the attack thus remained with Thuram, who differs in many things from Mbappé, but, above all, his defensive enthusiasm when he has to retreat.
As for Ronald Koeman’s team, it is enough to be competitive despite the low offensive level it presents and which contrasts with a pair of top center backs, the one formed by Van Dijk and De Vrij. Xavi Simons ran a lot through the midfield without any teammate looking at him. And when he touched a ball, he lacked some patience in his decisions. Reijnders was more experienced, although the one who could offer the real danger was Gakpo, although he only escaped from Koundé once. Memphis, meanwhile, seemed more concerned about keeping his white headband on his forehead. and in serving set pieces that no one finished. Because, of course, in these Netherlands Weghorst still has the role of a catalyst, not a main striker.
Mbappé, on the France bench in Leipzig. /AP
With all the players involved in their responsibilities and without anyone going off script – well, Dembélé did go his way, but that is usual – the minutes fell heavily. The goalkeepers were also somewhat to blame, as they were in his place when he touched down. Maignan denied Frimpong a goal in the same dawn after the winger beat Theo Hernández. And the Milan goalkeeper would repeat the blow with a good shot from Gakpo from the apex. Nor was the young Verbruggen far behind, a 21-year-old Brighton goalkeeper who really enjoyed the shots of Griezmann who continues his bad streak with the ‘bleus’ (he has scored only three goals in his last 31 games with France) .
Griezmann had, precisely, the best option for France in a second act in which Deschamps’ men, except for seven minutes of rebellion in which they added four chances, seemed satisfied with showing off their strength, not so much the solutions without Mbappé. Thuram had not been at the beginning, Neither did Rabiot, who rusted every time he stepped into the area from the second line, nor Giroud, the classic emergency solution.
Koeman, despite the temporary displeasure over Simons’ disallowed goal, did not have a bad night. Netherlands and France have four points and can now look to the next round. Another thing is the body that was left to some spectators who, of course, expected something else.
2024-06-21 21:03:54
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