Virgil van Dijk makes feelings clear as Netherlands denied goal by VAR in 0-0 draw with France during Euro 2024 clash
Netherlands captain Virgil Van Dijk has criticized the VAR after his side were denied a goal in their 0-0 draw with France at Euro 2024 on Friday, June 21. It was the first goalless draw of the competition as the two teams moved onto four points apiece in Group D.
France defeated Austria 1-0 in their tournament opener on Sunday, June 16, just as the Netherlands prevailed against Poland (2-1) on the same day. In their meeting in Leipzig, the two former Euro winners canceled each other out for the entirety of the fixture, failing to find the back of the net.
Les Bleus were disappointing in attack as they failed to properly test Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and never really looked like scoring. The Netherlands came closest to winning the game after youngster Xavi Simons found the back of the net in the 69th minute, only to be denied by the VAR.
Dutch captain Virgil Van Dijk was unimpressed with the decision and made his thoughts known after the game. He revealed to the press that he saw no reason why the goal should have been disallowed.
"From what I have seen, the goal should have been allowed," he told the host broadcaster.
Ronald Koeman's team weathered a period of French pressure before launching an attack of their own. Memphis Depay struck a firm effort from inside the box, forcing Mike Maignan to make a save with his foot. The ball fell to Simons, who lashed a strike into the bottom corner before the assistant's flag went up.
The goal had been disallowed for offside against Denzel Dumfries, who took up a position beside the goalkeeper. The VAR, Stuart Attwell, concluded that Dumfries' position had prevented Maignan from diving to save the ball and that the Inter Milan defender had affected play from an offside position.
Neither side managed to score as both sides picked up a point each.
Kylian Mbappe misses out as France hold Netherlands in Euro 2024 clash
France captain Kylian Mbappe was an unused substitute as his side played out a drab draw with the Netherlands in their second Group D game at Euro 2024. The former Paris Saint-Germain superstar was named on the bench and didn't come on as his country struggled in front of goal.
Mbappe injured his nose against Austria, requiring him to be potentially fitted with a protective mask for the rest of the competition. The 25-year-old returned to training before the Netherlands game but was deemed not fit enough to play.
France's attack struggled and their captain looked agitated on the bench, itching to get a taste of the action. He will likely return to action in the final group game against Poland on Tuesday, June 25.