(Wijnaldum, 44. Depay, 90+6, penalty)
When the lineups of the groups became known, the Orange, who were going through one of the most difficult periods in their history, were predicted to suffer a deafening failure and fall into the second-highest status division. However, the Dutch transformed themselves, believed in themselves and did not look like outsiders before Friday's game. Moreover, they hosted the world champions in Rotterdam, where they won fourteen victories in a row.
The magic of the arena, which was well known to Koeman, was remembered during the first attack, when the three-colored team was saved by managing to repel a killer blow. The French, however, attacked no less sharply in the first half, and once reminded everyone who scored the most beautiful goal of the 2018 World Cup. True, it was not easy for him to hit the target, while an unsuccessful cut turned out to be fatal for the guests. The ball flew over, and if Lloris, who had painted his head red, stopped the attack, then Wijnaldum’s second attempt was successful.
Division C
Dimitrov's saving penalty
(Zakhariu, 24 - Dimitrov, 89, penalty)
(Verbich, 9 - Johnsen, 85)
The correspondence dispute between the Bulgarians and Norwegians continued according to an unexpected scenario. The two favorites simultaneously lost to those fighting for survival, but achieved draws. The Scandinavians retained first place with an equal number of points, but they have a more difficult calendar. There's a trip ahead
The French took to the field with their usual strongest lineup. Giroud, Mbappe and Griezmann played in front. In midfield, Pogba and Kante played as usual. Didier Deschamps chose a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ronald Koeman also sent out all of his strongest players to date on the field. Memphis Depay played at the forefront of the attack, and Babel and Promes helped him. The midline consisted of the following players: Proper, De Jong and Wijnaldum.
But now let’s begin with an analysis of the fight itself, the beginning of which was calm and more than cautious in the performance of the opponents. As we are already used to, France again had a lot of possession of the ball, without trying to seriously threaten the opponent’s goal. But it didn’t last long, until the 15th minute, when Killian Mbappe opened the scoring. The young Les Bleu star responded to Blaise Matuidi's pass, sending the ball into Jasper Silissen's net.
After scoring the goal, the “tricolors” were not going to slow down. Deschamps' men continued to take the initiative. In the 20th minute, after Antoine Griezmann's pass, Lucas Hernandez could have scored, but his shot lacked accuracy, although the position was good.
The second part of the 1st half took place mainly in the Orange half of the field. But the current World Champions failed to make the most of their advantage - the Dutch defended reliably.
A few minutes before heading to the break, Pogba made a good cross, which Olivier Giroud responded to. Chelsea forward Jasper Silissen dealt with the shot without much difficulty. Almost immediately after this episode, the players of both national teams went on a well-deserved rest.
After the French and Dutch entered the 2nd half, it seemed that there was no break - the hosts continued to hold the ball and wait for the opponent to make a mistake. But what the French tend to do when they lead is to relax a little. This happened this time too. The Dutch national team took advantage of this gift. Already in the 67th minute, Ryan Babel made the score 1:1. The author of the assist was the extreme right-back Kenny Tete.
The goal scored had a positive effect on the performance of Koeman's men. It was striking that they managed to find their football. As a result, the guests almost scored the ball into Areol's goal again. But still, “Le Bleu” managed to cope with serious pressure and not concede.
Towards the end of the match, France again began to act as the first number. 73rd minute – an excellent counter-attack by the “tricolors”, which choked due to a bad pass from Mbappe. But the hosts still continued to push the pressure, and still scored. After a wonderful pass from Mendy, Olivier Giroud got ahead of the defense and hammered the ball into the net - 2:1. For him, this goal was the 32nd in a T-shirt national team, and allowed him to overtake Zidane in the list of scorers.
The French national team hosted the Netherlands team in the second round of the UEFA Nations League. The match ended in a rather difficult victory for the home team with a score of 2:1.
Starting lineups
France played this match using a 4-2-3-1 formation. Giroud acted at the forefront of the attack, Griezmann played underneath him from deep, and Matuidi and Mbappe were pushing forward on the edges of the attack. Kante and Pogba acted in the supporting zone, Lucas and Pavard acted in defense on the edges, and Umtiti and Varane acted in the center.
As for the guests, they played in a 3-4-3 formation. The attacking trio are Promes, Depay and Wijnaldum. In midfield, Tete and Babel played on the edges, Propper and De Jong played in the center. And the defense is held by De Light, Van Dijk and Blind.
Goals and highlights
1st half
At the start of the match, the teams played quite carefully. France, as the host, controlled the ball, but did not create any particular danger at the opponent's goal. Until the 15th minute, when Mbappe opened the scoring by putting his foot in the penalty area under Matuidi’s cross.
In the 20th minute, Griezmann made a great pass, however, the shot from Lucas turned out to be too inaccurate, although the position was promising.
Until the end of the first half, the game was dictated by France, which at times the whole team moved to the opponent’s half of the field, but it didn’t come down to the last shot. The Dutch fought back and sometimes launched counterattacks, but they did not pose any particular danger.
In the 42nd minute, Pogba delivered a good cross and tried to head it past Giroud, but he failed to surprise the goalkeeper. The referee's whistle, sending the teams to break, recorded the French advantage both in the score - 1:0 - and in the game.
2nd half
The second half at the start followed the scenario of the first - France had the advantage. But the hosts began to relax a little and the guests got the opportunity to punish them. In the 66th minute, Wijnaldum could have scored from a killer position, but slightly missed the target. And a minute later the score on the scoreboard was already 1:1. Babel received the ball from Tete's cross in the center of the penalty area, and then shot through the goalkeeper.
With courage, Holland tried to put the squeeze on the opponent, but the French were able to wait out this moment. In the 73rd minute, the French launched a cool 3v2 counterattack, which ended with an inaccurate pass from Mbappe. And in the 75th, Giroud put his team ahead. Mendy served into the penalty area, where Olivier played ahead and drove the ball into the net.
Despite this, Holland continued to attack, and France began to play more openly on the defensive. At the same time, the French did not forget about attacks. In the 78th minute, Mbappe ran one on one against Van Dijk, but at the last moment his defender prevented him from shooting.
Holland really wanted to score, but couldn't do it. In the end, almost the entire team of the guests went on an assault, but were unable to score the desired goal. The final score of the match is 2:1. France leads the Group 1 table with 4 points, while the Dutch have 0 points so far.
Result of the match France - Holland (2:1)
1:0 — Mbappe - 14′
1:1 – Babel – 67′
2:1 – Giroud – 75′
Match statistics
Ball possession percentage: 53 - 47
Beats: 14 - 6
Shots on target: 8 - 1
Angular: 4 - 2
Yellow cards: 2 - 0
France - Holland 2:1
Goals: Mbappe 14, Giroud 74 - Babel 67
France: Areola, Hernandez (Mendy 62), Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Matuidi, Pogba, Kante, Griezmann (Nzonzi 81), Giroud (Dembele 89), Mbappe
Trainer:
Holland: Cillessen, van Dijk, de Ligt, Tete (Janmaat 82), Wijnaldum, F. de Jong, Prepper, Promes (Wormer 76), Blind, Babel (L. de Jong 88), Depay
Trainer:
Warned: Griezmann 56, Pavard 80
The first home match of the French national team after the triumph at the World Cup had a lot in common with a party: a team as close as possible to Deschamps’ bid for the World Cup, a Stade de France filled to capacity and an opponent from the line of those who are pleasant and... easy to beat. The game turned out to be quite consistent with the surroundings, fast, with a minimum amount of defects, and not without a twist.
Already in the very opening of the match, the rivals exchanged sharp moments. Mbappe, after a great pass from Pogba, ran into the penalty area, twisted the opponents, and it took Silessen a lot of effort to parry Killian's shot into the near corner. The Dutch responded with an inaccurate strike from an advantageous position. For a long, long time this was the only dangerous episode at the Areola gate.
The French, who captured the ball and territory, did not reduce pressure throughout the first half (69.5% possession). The imperial link between Pogba and Kante in the midfield and the telepathic interaction between Griezmann and Mbappe created the impression that this gang had not parted since that memorable match in July.
Read also: France – Holland: RMC forecast (event of the day)The goal was only a matter of time, although it was largely the result of chance. Promes carelessly dropped the ball into the defensive line, making a key pass to Matuidi, who was lingering behind the offside line. Giroud couldn't reach Blaise's cross, but no one stopped Mbappe from shooting into the empty corner of the goal. Killian's sixth goal in his last nine appearances for France...
If we were not familiar with Deschamps' habits, we might have expected the start of the festival to be performed by the "tricolors". Not his style! The French rolled the ball, patiently waiting for the opponent's mistakes until the middle of the second half. A sort of Tour de France on a football field: the peleton moves steadily along the highway, now gaining and then slowing down, and everyone knows that the most interesting thing will probably happen at the finish line.
Indeed, the Dutch managed to find a crack in the hosts' defensive block when they loosened their grip a little, lulled by their own superiority and the helplessness of the Orange. Several attacks that were unpleasant for Areola did not become a warning for the defense, and Tete’s flank breakthrough ended with an accurate cross to Babel – 1:1.
There are many teams that would be unsettled by such an incident, but France named after Deschamps is not one of them. This time, the lifesaver of “Le Bleu” was the forward, who was the main one at the World Cup and who did not score a single goal there! The Chelsea striker broke the dry streak that had lasted since May with a beautiful touch after Mendy's cross, bringing France victory and leadership in Group 1 of Division A. You can continue to criticize Giroud, but he, meanwhile, has only 2 goals left to David Trezeguet (34) and third place in the list of the best snipers of the national team. Zidane is left behind.
In general, "Le Bleu", which has increased unbeaten streak up to 13 matches, show excellent dynamics to turn the greatest page in their history and begin to write a new one. Having blown past the last two major forums, Holland is just beginning to put on muscle, and for now the outlines of what Koeman is building are not too clear. There is potential based on youth, but coaching staff You can’t envy Ronald – the continuity of generations, which serves as a good help in such a matter, is not about the current “orange”.
