The Blues were on the verge of opening the scoring at the start of their match against the Netherlands. Antoine Griezmann missed a crucial opportunity in front of an almost empty goal, served by Adrien Rabiot. Rabiot's pass may have been a bit too far back, leading to Griezmann's mistake with the opponent's goal wide open. The No. 7 had another chance to score moments later, but his shot narrowly missed the post.
This missed opportunity could have changed the course of a complicated match. The Netherlands had already shown themselves to be dangerous on several occasions. France had an almost unmissable chance to score in the 14th minute. Aurélien Tchouaméni restarted French possession from thirty meters, with Ousmane Dembélé finding Adrien Rabiot, who then combined superbly with Marcus Thuram. Thuram's subtle backheel in the penalty area set up Rabiot for a face-to-face with Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Despite being unbalanced, Rabiot chose not to strike, instead trying to set up Antoine Griezmann. The Madrilenian was visibly surprised by his teammate's decision and failed to push the ball into the net with his right foot. Griezmann quickly recovered and almost had a second chance to score, but he fell backwards again, unable to pass the ball to Rabiot. Tijani Reijnders managed to clear the ball, and France's subsequent efforts in the area were also unsuccessful.
- Griezmann's missed opportunities were not the only chances for France. The team appeared in the area multiple times but failed to convert their efforts into goals. The match continued with both teams struggling to break the deadlock.
- The Netherlands, having shown their dangerous potential early in the match, continued to press the French defense. Despite their efforts, the score remained 0-0, with both sides missing key opportunities to take the lead.
- The match's tension was palpable, with both teams aware that a single goal could make the difference. France's inability to capitalize on their chances highlighted the unpredictable nature of football, where even the most skilled players can falter under pressure.
