Euro 2020 Match 6: Solitary Penalty for France Provides Win Over Dutch

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 6: Netherlands v France

Solitary Penalty for France Provides Win Over Dutch

June 16, 2020

Netherlands 0 France 1

 

Olivier Giroud’s penalty was the difference between France and the Netherlands in their opening Euro 2020 encounter.

 

Playing at the Stade de France, the Dutch looked to commence their campaign with a vital win. They behan with a power shot from Georginio Wijnaldum that hit the bar, before Quincy Promes had a ping from the tightest of angles that Hugo Lloris could only parry away due to its sheer force. From the ensuing corner, Stefan de Vrij’s header needed to be cleared off the line.

 

France worked into the match, and eventually in the seventeenth minute, had their first attempt at goal. Moussa Sissoko’s effort, though, flew to the right of goal.

 

Antoine Griezmann looked dangerous for the French as well, but it was Sissoko who looked the likely goal scorer with the second shot, only for the Dutch goalkeeper, Jasper Cillissen, to keep the ball at bay.

 

In the next passage of play, Benjamin Pavard shot from long range, also requiring a diving goalkeeper save. Pavard, later, drove back in from the left wing himself, and his shot needed two different defeners to block. From the rebound, Sissoko nearly had a goal, only for Cillissen to once again dive to thwart the ball. From the corner, Kingsley Coman’s header looped over the bar.

 

With the constant pressure in defence, the Netherlands needed a breather. This meant the only method of gaining those breathers came in the form of clearances. However, Kylian Mbappé combined with Giroud, whose volley needed a defensive block. Griezmann then followed up with a shot; again, the defenders planted their bodies in the way.

 

Then, just as the break approached, Mbappé took a shot that deflected off the arm of a defender. The ball shifted direction and bounced into the goal. Initially, the French thought they had scored, only to not hear the whistle blown for the handball and thus penalty. The referee erred on the side that Cillissen had not gone to the ball due to the whistle, and the penalty was only awarded, not the goal. It mattered little, as Giroud paid off the hard work of the French with a goal to the left of the goalkeeper.

Straight after the break, Memphis Depay finally came into the match for the Dutch with a shot after he was found with a short cross from the left wing. Lloris made the save, as well as keeping at bay the follow up from Promes.

 

In the 59th minute, Wijnaldum had a ping at goal, blocked by the French defence and out for a corner. Later, Depay had a shot from a wide angle saved by Lloris.

 

Down the other end, Sissoko and Griezmann worked together, with the shot from the latter blocked and out for a corner. The French took a short corner, with Raphaël Varane running around the Dutch defence. Cillissen managed to dive on his shot, and then substitute Adrien Rabiot had a ping, only to miss to the left of goal.

 

In the 74th minute, France’s other substitute Blaise Matuidi hit the woodwork. Down the other end, Kevin Strootman, the Dutch substitute, had a choice shot, before three French defenders slid to halt the strike of Frenkie de Jong.

 

France searched in vain for their second goal, and as the Dutch defence looked vulnerable, the only person to get a shot was Corentin Tolisso from long range.

 

The Dutch went for a late equaliser, with Depay trying for goal, only for the defence to, once again, block the ball. From the second corner, Depay jumped uncontested, only to header the ball straight to Player of the Match Lloris, with evelen saves in total. Then, in additional time, de Jong cut back the ball into the box, and his dribbling caught the French off guard, only for his shot to hit the woodwork. Alas, it was the day of the Dutch, as France earned the full three points.