Game 21: Netherlands vs France live from the Leipzig Stadium. BBC1 8pm

[Coulthard's Jaw]

Possible line-ups

Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Aké; Reijnders, Schouten, Veerman; Simons, Depay, Gakpo

France: Maignan; Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernández; Dembélé, Kanté, Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Griezmann, Thuram

A draw would suit both sides.

Proper arm wrestle of a match from Euro 96

The Opta supercomputer gives them a 42.1% chance of victory to the Netherlands' 30.4%, with 27.5% of simulations finishing level. France are now third favourites to win Euro 2024 according to the Opta predictions (18.1%), behind Germany (19.0%) and England (18.4%). The Netherlands are sixth favourites at 6.4%.

Gary Lineker presents, with commentary from

 and 

 

 

Edited June 21 by Coulthard's Jaw

[GunmaN1905]

My most anticipated matchup of the group stage.

 

[craigcwwe]

 

 

[Haguey]

This could be the match of the tournament. Fancy the Dutch here actually, but a draw is probably likely

[Coulthard's Jaw]

Dion has spoken

[GunmaN1905]

Tchouameni instead of Mbappe.

Frimpong instead of Veerman.

[Rebs]

I taught a lad a couple of years ago called Jeremy Frimpong. 

[Rob1981]

I am out tonight for reasons I won’t bore you with. First game I will have missed. But fortunately after that Poland-Austria game the permutations are quite simple.

A France win sees them top the group with a game to spare. This also eliminates Poland, who would still be able to get to three points but would be unable to leapfrog either of the teams they have lost to because of an inferior h2h record… so even with a win in the last game they would only be able to finish 4th and not 3rd.

A Netherlands win sees them qualify, but doesn’t necessarily assure them of top spot. They could still finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd depending on the results in the last round of games.

And a draw gets both France and Netherlands to the coveted four-point haul. Which doesn’t qualify either of them mathematically, but makes it very very likely for both. And Poland would still be knocked out.

[kopsy101]

Christ, Mbappe is on the bench

[CFuller]

Time for the other French attackers to step up.

2-1 to Les Bleus.

[The Amazing Dale Watkins]

I can see this game fizzling out in a draw. 

[Lucas]

Hope this is a cracker. Netherlands win please. 

[eenie]

La Marseillaise is the GOAT anthem, isn't it?

[Smallen]

man I wish Zirkee were playing just for some interest 

[Jisntdaman]

Italian anthem is the best

[BigV]

Anthony taylor, oh god, this will go well. 

Edited June 21 by BigV

[CFuller]

Another English referee alert.

[Nordan]

I think France wins. 1-0.

[Darius1998]

First reminder of Frimpong's pace.

[Selwink]

In case anyone had any doubts about Frimpong's speed

[skybluedave]

I feel like I've Mandela effected myself. I could have sworn the Dutch flag was orange, white and blue. But it's red 

[BigV]

That save, wow

[DJ]

Heart rate up to 9999 immediately  

[Darius1998]

Just now, skybluedave said:

I feel like I've Mandela effected myself. I could have sworn the Dutch flag was orange, white and blue. But it's red 

Wasn't that South Africa's flag before Apartheid ended?

[VP.]

That's why I kept Frimpong in my fantasy team, is a defender on there but plays right wing for the Dutch. Obviously not great if he does bugger all and they lose 3-0...

[Nordan]

Great start.

[DJ]

3 minutes ago, Darius1998 said:

Wasn't that South Africa's flag before Apartheid ended?

Correct. Based on the Dutch flag from olden days, that was indeed oranje-white-blue. 

Edited June 21 by DJ

[Smallen]

Dembele is horrible every time I watch him.

[Selwink]

This start has a 1-0 for France from a set piece written all over it

[GunmaN1905]

What's Rabiot doing? 

[Nordan]

😂

[Darius1998]

Griezmann of all people.

[VP.]

What the actual **** has Rabiot just done?

[av3ry]

Miss of the season! 

[Lucas]

Wow.  incredible. 

[BigV]

Rabiot 

[DJ]

How did they not score  

[CFuller]

What the heck, Rabiot?

How does this guy keep getting in the France team?

[av3ry]

Wasn't Griezmann offside too? Looked slightly ahead of the ball on the last replay 

[Smallen]

extremely puzzled as to why Rabiot didn’t just score but also no idea why Griezmann wasn’t ready for it either having made the run  

[craigcwwe]

Rabiot just straight up refusing to shoot. That was awful. 

[GunmaN1905]

This is shaping up to be a classic.

[craigcwwe]

1 minute ago, CFuller said:

What the heck, Rabiot?

How does this guy keep getting in the France team?

Maybe he’s their Henderson? 

[kopsy101]

Come on my freres, should have been 1-0. Rabiot is decent though, that wasn't his finest moment.

[Freakiie]

Rabiot isn't a LM though which is what he appears to be kinda playing?

Like why do that when you have Coman or Barcola as options.

[Darius1998]

1 minute ago, Freakiie said:

Rabiot isn't a LM though which is what he appears to be kinda playing?

Like why do that when you have Coman or Barcola as options.

Because Deschamps has to play Theo at LB instead of sticking another CB there.

[Freakiie]

Just now, Darius1998 said:

Because Deschamps has to play Theo at LB instead of sticking another CB there.

I think even from a defensive perspective Coman or Barcola would be more helpful to deal with Frimpong's pace than Rabiot.

[The Amazing Dale Watkins]

Ref is really inconsistent. Petty in some scenes and lax the next.

[kopsy101]

Looks like Rabiot is almost like left attacking midfield in attack, with Hernandez providing the pace out wide. Rabiot is good defensively too and it means he's coming into midfield too, something that Barcola or Coman can't do. So it makes sense really. 

[Smallen]

very low quality game in the final thirds