France has successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League despite a lackluster 0-0 draw against Israel on Thursday. The match, held at the Stade de France, witnessed a record low attendance due to heightened security concerns following recent violence in Amsterdam involving Israeli fans and locals.
Les Bleus returned to the venue in the northern suburbs of Paris for the first time since June 2023. Although their performance was unimpressive, securing at least second place in Group A2 ensured their progression. Currently, France stands second with 10 points from five games, trailing Italy by three points, who recently defeated Belgium 1-0 in Brussels.
Looking ahead, France is set to face the Azzurri in Milan on Sunday, with the top spot in the group on the line. The Thursday game was marred by sparse attendance and heavy security, with 4,000 security personnel deployed to prevent any incidents. Only 16,611 spectators attended, marking the smallest-ever turnout for Les Bleus at the Stade de France.
France coach Didier Deschamps expressed his concerns post-match, stating, \"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.\"
The absence of captain Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, who was sidelined due to a thigh injury, was evident on the field. Without their usual firepower, France struggled with creativity and inspiration. Randal Kolo Muani, playing as a lone forward alongside Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise on his flanks, found it challenging to pose a threat, with his first chance in the 19th minute being denied by Daniel Peretz.
Despite dominating possession and nearly opening the scoring in the 77th minute, Peretz's crucial save kept Israel afloat. Substitute Marcus Thuram and Christopher Nkunku also came close to scoring in stoppage time, but their efforts were insufficient to secure a victory for the hosts.
Reference(s):
France reach UEFA Nations League last eight after 0-0 draw with Israel
cgtn.com
