Xavi Simons goal disallowed as France and Netherlands draw in Euro 2024

France, with Kylian Mbappe on the bench, and the Netherlands drew 0-0 in a clash-of-the-giants Euro 2024 Group D match after the Dutch had a second-half goal disallowed.

Antoine Griezmann wasted two glorious chances for France and Spain’s Xavi Simons had his effort ruled out for the Dutch, because Denzel Dumfries was standing offside next to keeper Mike Maignan. The decision was eventually confirmed by VAR after a lengthy delay.

With France captain Mbappe on the bench after suffering a broken nose in their opener, the game sparked into life in fits and starts, without ever threatening to turn into a classic.

The draw means Poland are eliminated from the group after they lost their second match of the tournament earlier, in a 3-1 defeat to Austria.

Roared on by an orange wall around two-thirds of the Leipzig Stadium, the Dutch nearly pounced on French uncertainty inside a minute.

The explosive pace of Jeremie Frimpong took him clear on goal but the Bayer Leverkusen man could not produce a clean finish and Mike Maignan turned his shot behind.

Aurelien Tchouameni replaced Mbappe in France's only change as coach Didier Deschamps sought the security of an extra midfielder.

Without their captain, the 2022 World Cup finalists turned to Griezmann for inspiration.

The stand-in skipper stung the palms of Bart Verbruggen from distance.

But the Atletico Madrid forward had a moment to forget with the biggest chance to open the scoring before half-time.

An intricate move played in Adrien Rabiot but when he decided to pass rather than shoot, Griezmann failed to connect on his weaker right foot.

At the other end, Maignan had to produce another fine save low to his left to turn Cody Gakpo's drive behind.

France had the better chances in