Mbappé watches from subs' bench as France and Netherlands produce Euro 2024's first 0-0

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Kylian Mbappé watched from the substitutes’ bench as France and the Netherlands finished 0-0 in a heavyweight European Championship clash on Friday.

Antoine Griezmann missed France's best chances while Xavi Simons had a goal ruled out for the Dutch in the first goalless draw of the tournament.

It leaves both teams on four points in Group D after their second match. It also ensured Poland was the first team eliminated. Poland was beaten by Austria 3-1 earlier Friday and is assured of finishing bottom of the group, even if it beats France in its final group game.

France's buildup was dominated by speculation on whether Mbappé would play after the team captain broke his nose in their opening 1-0 win over Austria.

Mbappé trained wearing a face mask on Thursday and coach Didier Deschamps was optimistic he’d be available. But Deschamps evidently decided it was not worth the risk to play Mbappé in a game his team had no need to win.

“Kylian is doing well. He's getting better with each day. If it was a decisive game I would have thought twice about him playing,” Deschamps acknowledged. “It’s a risk for him. With each day that that passes, we are getting to a point where it’s better for him. I thought the wiser decision was to keep him on the bench.”

France enjoyed its best period of pressure after the break, when Aurélien Tchouaméni headed over, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen denied Griezmann from close range, and Ousmane Dembélé went close.

Then Xavi fired the ball in at the other end in the 69th on a rebound after Mike Maignan saved Memphis Depay’s effort. It set off wild Dutch celebrations that sent beer cups and their contents flying into the Leipzig sky. But the fans' elation was quickly deflated because Denzel Dumfries, who was offside, was adjudged after a lengthy VAR check to have obstructed Maignan from attempting to save Xavi’s shot.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman thought otherwise and felt the goal should have been allowed.

Griezmann had the best of France’s early chances, forcing a save from Verbruggen before he and Adrien Rabiot somehow contrived to miss when it seemed easier to score. Rabiot had only the goalkeeper to beat but he attempted a pass instead to Griezmann, who fell over trying to hit it from close range.

The French team, which needed an own goal to beat Austria, has yet to score at Euro 2024.

“We weren’t efficient enough. We had five or six goal-scoring opportunities and we weren’t able to find the back of the net, and if we’re not able to find the back of the next, we’re not walking away with three points,” Deschamps said. "I’m happy despite the fact we weren’t efficient enough.”

The Dutch fans outnumbered their French counterparts. Thousands of orange-clad fans brightened Leipzig’s city center earlier, though the French fans in blue were in no way discouraged from creating their own party. One French supporter brought a live rooster to the stadium on the eve of the match. It was unclear if the animal had a ticket for the game.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

French supporter wave French flags before the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)

Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands, left, is challenged by Adrien Rabiot of France during the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Kylian Mbappe of France adjusts his face mask as the team warms-up before the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

France head coach Didier Deschamps, left, and Netherlands' head coach Ronald Koeman chat after the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Antoine Griezmann of France reacts during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Referee Anthony Taylor gestures during the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Xavi Simons of the Netherlands, right, celebrates after scoring a goal that was then disallowed for offside during the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Xavi Simons of the Netherlands, right, scores a later disallowed goal during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

N'Golo Kante of France, center, tries to keep the ball as Denzel Dumfries of the Netherlands, right, Joey Veerman, background, and Lutsharel Geertruida defend against him during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Xavi Simons of the Netherlands, left, is challenged by Aurelien Tchouameni of France during the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Denzel Dumfries of the Netherlands protest to referee Anthony Taylor of England, after a goal scored by a teammate Nathan Ake was disallowed during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mathias Schrader)

Denzel Dumfries of the Netherlands, left, duels for the ball with Adrien Rabiot of France during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Antoine Griezmann of France, right, gestures to teammates during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mathias Schrader)

Antoine Griezmann of France reacts during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Kylian Mbappe of France reacts during a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Kylian Mbappe of France looks out from the bench before a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Kylian Mbappe of France looks out from the bench before a Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

BELLEVILLE, Mich. (AP) — Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is set to make his final major campaign appearance before the coming week’s debate at a football game between the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday.

Walz, the governor of Minnesota, planned to meet young voters on the college campus before the game's afternoon kickoff. Walz has leaned into his background as a football coach and teacher while campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid, making multiple recent visits to university campuses to engage with students.

The visit comes before the debate Tuesday between Walz and Donald Trump’s running mate, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. After Saturday’s game, Walz will travel to northern Michigan for final debate prep before the faceoff, according to a source familiar with his plans who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private preparations.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been playing the role of Vance in Walz’s debate prep sessions, which so far have taken place at a downtown Minneapolis hotel, according to another person who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Michigan is one of the key battleground states in November’s presidential election. While Harris has made multiple visits to Detroit since launching her campaign in July, Walz has focused his efforts on other areas of the state, including a recent trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city.

Walz has continued to engage with young voters on the campaign trail, including a recent visit to Michigan State University. In 2022, Michigan saw the highest youth voter turnout rate nationwide as Democrats made historic gains in the state. Energizing similar voters could be crucial for Harris’ this year.

AP writers Will Weissert in Washington and Meg Kinnard in South Carolina contributed to this report.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks to supporters at a Democratic campaign office in Macon, Ga., Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)