Netherlands 2-0 France: Every player rated as Frenkie de Jong inspires in win over world champions

In a storming display in Rotterdam, the Netherlands destroyed France 2-0.

Ignore the scoreline, this was an absolute hosing for the World Champions. They could produce nothing capable of matching the delightful and dynamic Dutch. We’ve rated every single player out of 10!

Netherlands

Jasper Cillessen – 6/10

Did what little he had to do with a calm assurance.

Denzel Dumfries – 9/10

Full of running all night long. Solid at the back but a genuine outlet in attack; tortured the French defenders whenever he got into the final third. Almost scored, too, with a towering back-post header (and narrow-angle shot on the rebound).

Matthijs de Ligt – 8/10

Rock solid both with and without the ball. Rejected every single French attack with absurd ease. No wonder half the world wants him.

Virgil van Dijk – 8/10

A typically solid display. No Frenchman could get past him and he kept his defence well organised from start to finish. Even when the French stepped up the pressure, they couldn’t penetrate.

Daley Blind – 8/10

Constantly available as an outlet down the left, always supporting his team-mates. Absolutely rolled back the years and looked as athletic as he ever has. Some selfless runs and special crosses.

Marten de Roon – 8/10

Kept things ticking over at the base of midfield. Absolutely flawless display.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 8/10

Missed a great early chance that he should have done better with, but buried a rebound at the end of the first-half to give the Dutch a big lead. Constantly surging forward to push the tempo and nearly always available at the top of the box.

Frenkie de Jong – 9/10

Incredibly, impossibly confident display. Whenever the Dutch dominated, he was at the heart of it. Almost every passing attack flowed through him. He played a part in the goal and produced some stunning passes in the second half, including two delicious first-time chipped passes into the French box. Pulled a great save out of Lloris right at the death and won a penalty in the last minute. The best player on the park by some distance.

Steven Bergwijn – 7/10

Ran hard and fast at the French defenders, causing panic whenever he’d touch the ball. Used it intelligently and took up smart positions too.

Ryan Babel – 7/10

Always the outlet, Babel turned in a strange performance where his movement was exceptional but his use of the ball was poor. You couldn’t say he was bad, but if he had been a bit sharper this could have been a thrashing.

Memphis Depay – 8/10

Superb run and cut-back early on to put it on a plate for Wijnaldum. Was unplayable all night long with his movement and passing. Flicks, tricks, everything was used in perfect measure to his team’s benefit. Capped the night beautifully with a Panenka penalty.

Quincy Promes – n/a

Came on for Bergwijn after 85 minutes.

Tonny Vilhena – n/a

Came on for Wijnaldum after 89 minutes.

Nathan Aké – n/a

Came on for Babel after 92 minutes.

France

Hugo Lloris – 8/10

An enormous display from Hugo Lloris. Made countless stops to keep France alive in the game until the very end when Memphis’ penalty did him in. Even for the Dutch goal he first pulled off a great stop from Babel and could do nothing about Wijnaldum’s rebound.

Benjamin Pavard – 5/10

Nearly replicated his stunning goal at the World Cup but was denied. Ran hard, but was constantly exploited by the Dutch attack.

Raphael Varane – 6/10

Defended well. Looked back to his stalwart best, covering for his more erratic team-mates.

Presnel Kimpembe – 4/10

Exposed just two minutes in as the Dutch played around him, and lost Ryan Babel in the lead-up to the Dutch opener at the end of the first half. He was reasonably fine besides that, but his potential for error will have Deschamps counting the seconds until Samuel Umtiti’s return.

Lucas Digne – 5/10

Brought a great deal of balance to the French side with a good display in both attack. An amazing cross to put it on a plate for Griezmann early on was the highlight.

N’Golo Kanté – 5/10

Couldn’t run as fast as the Dutch passed the ball.

Steven N’Zonzi – 4/10

A poorly-judged header caused chaos in his side’s box and led to the Netherlands’ opener. Just looked out of place in general next to Kanté as opposed to playing instead of Kanté (when he usually looks great). Subbed with 10 minutes to go.

Blaise Matuidi – 5/10

He ran around a lot and helped his side defend. Didn’t impact attack as much as usual, however, and was taken off just after the hour.

Antoine Griezmann – 4/10

Should have scored just before 10 minutes when he met a lovely cross in the box. Drifted in and out of the game, which is criminal given how important he is to a Pogba-less France.

Kylian Mbappé – 5/10

Had one great run in the first half but otherwise was utterly isolated by France’s style of play that by the time Dembélé came on to properly partner him, a funk had already set in.

Olivier Giroud – 4/10

As anonymous and vestigial as he usually is when France decide to play on the break. Baffling that he emerged after half-time. Finally put out of his misery just after the hour mark. A genuinely awful display, though a lot of it is just that he doesn’t suit France’s style of play.

Ousmane Dembélé – 5/10

Came on for Giroud after 64 minutes. Immediately added some thrust and shape to the French attack, but his touch was heavy.

Moussa Sissoko – 3/10

Came on for Matuidi after 64 minutes. Was instantly demanding the ball and trying to carry it forward, though he couldn’t actually do that. Gave away a ridiculous penalty in the very last second.

Tanguy Ndombele – n/a

Came on for N’Zonzi after 80 minutes.

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