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

The result sees both teams closing in on reaching the knockout rounds

Xavi Simons of the Netherlands thinks he has scored but the effort was disallowed. AP

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 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 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.

Antoine Griezmann hits the free kick. AFP

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 the second period.

France's Kylian Mbappe on the bench. AFP

Marcus Thuram fizzed a shot just wide from the edge of the area before Tchouameni could not keep a header down.

The normally reliable Griezmann was guilty of another big miss when his weak effort was turned behind by Verbruggen with the goal gaping.

But the major talking point of the first goalless draw of the tournament saw the Dutch denied a winner.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Simons fired in on the rebound after Maignan saved from Memphis Depay 18 minutes from time.

The goal was ruled out by the officials on the field for offside as Dumfries was adjudged to be interfering with Maignan's ability to stop the shot.

France's Ngolo Kante and Jeremie Frimpong battle for the ball. PA

After the lengthy VAR check, which has been a welcome rarity at the tournament so far, the offside was confirmed and France handed a reprieve.

Deschamps rejected the chance to risk Mbappe for the closing stages as he instead sent on Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman in search of a winner.

But both sides settled for a point that is already likely enough to secure their passage to the knockout rounds thanks to the safety net that sees the four best third-placed finishers advance.

France take on the Poles, while the Netherlands face Austria in the final games of the section on Tuesday.