France has secured their spot in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, despite a disappointing 0-0 draw against Israel on Thursday. The match, held at the Stade de France, saw an unusually low turnout due to heightened security concerns following recent incidents involving Israeli fans.
Returning to their home ground in the northern suburbs of Paris for the first time since June 2023, Les Bleus were unable to impress the sparse crowd. However, the draw was enough to guarantee them at least second place in Group A2, with 10 points from five games. They trail behind Italy, who defeated Belgium 1-0 in Brussels, sitting three points ahead.
France is set to face Italy, known as the Azzurri, in Milan on Sunday, where the top spot in the group will be on the line.
The subdued atmosphere on Thursday was a result of tightened security measures, with 4,000 personnel deployed to prevent any disturbances, following violence involving Israeli fans and locals in Amsterdam the previous week. The match recorded a record low attendance for Les Bleus at the Stade de France, with only 16,611 spectators present.
"I didn’t see the scuffles. We had to play this game in a context that we would like not to have. It’s obviously weird to play in front of such a small crowd," France’s coach Didier Deschamps commented after the match.
Missing key players like captain Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele due to injury, France struggled to find their usual offensive rhythm. Randal Kolo Muani led the attack but faced challenges breaking through Israel’s defense, with his best opportunity in the 19th minute being saved by goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
Despite dominating possession, France couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Substitute Marcus Thuram and Christopher Nkunku both came close to scoring late in the game, but Peretz’s impressive saves kept the scoreline intact.
While the performance left much to be desired, France’s focus now shifts to their crucial encounter with Italy, where a victory could see them top their group heading into the quarterfinals.
Reference(s):
France reach UEFA Nations League last eight after 0-0 draw with Israel
cgtn.com
