With his way of speaking, Ronald Koeman exudes the composure that once characterized him as a footballer. Koeman has seen and experienced a lot during his long, successful career, but late on Friday evening his spirit was challenged. The coach of the Dutch national team went to the catacombs to ask referee Anthony Taylor for an explanation. It was about the scene that would have decided the match between France and the Netherlands at this European Football Championship.
Xavi Simons shot the ball into the goal in his home stadium in Leipzig, but the goal was disallowed because Denzel Dumfries was offside and in the field of vision of the French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The goal was disallowed after a long review, and the result was that this European Championship had to endure the first 0:0 draw. In one of the most anticipated matches of the preliminary round.
France and the Netherlands are two heavyweights in this continental tournament, both former title holders and blessed with football players that few have. The game was ultimately better than its result, but Koeman in particular was not at all happy with how it came about. “Dumfries is offside, no question. But he is not hindering the goalkeeper. So it is a legal goal,” said the coach. “And it takes five minutes to check that? I don’t understand that.”
Would things have gone better with Mbappé?
His opinion was probably exclusive. Dumfries was so close to Maignan that he was at least irritating. “I was surprised that it took so long. I saw straight away that it was offside,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. He did not want to pay any more attention to the scene, as Deschamps has other worries ahead of the final group match against Poland.
After two appearances at this European Championship, France is still waiting for a goal of its own. The victory against Austria resulted from an own goal, against the Dutch they kept a clean sheet without any outside help. There were plenty of opportunities to score. Antoine Griezmann in particular was unlucky in the finish several times. The Atlético Madrid striker was allowed to play further up front this time, replacing Kylian Mbappé. Deschamps rested his most prominent man after he broke his nose against Austria.
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Without Mbappé, France lacked that certain something. The ball moved passably through the French ranks, but there was always something that prevented success. Either a Dutch leg, a head or simply a weak finish from the French. The question remained whether things would have gone better with Mbappé. “He is one of the best footballers in Europe, perhaps the world. It’s different when he’s not there,” said Koeman.
In the qualification, Mbappé scored four goals in two games against the Dutch, with France winning both duels (4-0 and 2-1). Koeman learned lessons from the defeats. He ordered his team to adopt a more passive approach, with Holland letting France have the ball. Unusual for the Dutch, who are trained to dominate, but effective. “In the qualification, they killed us with their counterattacks. They are so fast,” said Koeman.
In Leipzig, France rarely had the opportunity to counterattack. But the World Cup runners-up also cut a good figure with the ball. France were the better team, more creative and with more drive towards the goal. The team found it easier to do what the Dutch had difficulty doing. When Koeman’s team became dangerous, Xavi Simons was usually involved. But they rarely got through the secure French defense. Ronald Koeman was satisfied nonetheless. “I think the 0-0 is a fair result,” said the coach.
Fair and useful. With four points, both teams are as good as in the round of 16, even if their place in the next round is not yet mathematically certain. This probably explains the general decision not to go on the offensive on Friday evening. “In the final phase, I had the feeling that France was happy with the point,” said Koeman. Didier Deschamps contradicted him so half-heartedly that it had to be understood as agreement.
