Netherlands v France LIVE: Kylian Mbappe on the bench for Euro 2024 clash

Ronald Koeman makes just one change to the Netherlands team that defeated Poland in their opening match. Joey Veerman drops to the bench with Jeremie Frimpong replacing him in the line-up.

For France, there’s no Kylian Mbappe. His broken nose means the striker starts the game on the bench and may not even feature. He is replaced with Aurelien Tchouameni in the starting team in what is Didier Deschamps only change.

France XI: France XI: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T Hernandez, Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Thuram

Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfies, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Frimpong; Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo, Depay

Kylian Mbappe unveiled a specially designed mask to protect his broken nose as the France captain targets a return to the pitch against the Netherlands at Euro 2024, but he may be banned from wearing it due to Uefa rules.

Mbappe broke his nose during France’s opening win over Austria on Monday night but the superstar forward returned to training on Thursday sporting a blue, white and red mask in display of the French tricolore.

However, Uefa rules state that “medical equipment worn on the playing field must be of a single colour” and “must not allow the team or manufacturer to be identified”.

It was the first time Gareth Southgate had been England’s unlikely axeman by culling three attacking talents for about three weeks. If, at least, Marcus Rashford, James Maddison and Jack Grealish discovered on different days that they had not made the cut for Euro 2024, a trio at the front of the pecking order saw their numbers come up together. Unlike Rashford and Grealish, they had no warning.

Exit Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden when England needed a goal. The men taken off were England’s record scorer, their reigning player of the year and England’s new Footballer of the Year. It may have been the most dramatic triple substitution of the Southgate years.

The surprise in a draw with Denmark was not simply how bad England were, but who finished the game in the attack: Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins and Eberechi Eze could have comprised a serviceable but unexceptional mid-table Premier League forward line, at least until each had a breakthrough season.

As the England players met their families in Frankfurt after a dismal draw with Denmark, there was a “tension”, and it wasn’t all to do with the result. Some relatives of squad members feel that Gareth Southgate has made “commitments” to certain players, but is not picking those who deserve it or are in form. It started to seep in afterwards. A concern is growing that Southgate is too wedded to certain senior players. There have been acerbic comments about not wanting to “upset” them.

It should be acknowledged that that perception goes against the huge decisions he made in selecting this squad, where he left many big names out. Some of this is also the natural irritation that comes when a player is left out, and when results are poor. Everything feels different after an encouraging performance. It’s also a risk of letting families in after games in the way England have maturely tried to do.

France boss Didier Deschamps says he will give Kylian Mbappe as long as possible to recover from a broken nose before deciding on a starting XI for tonight’s game.

Whether Mbappe starts or not Deschamps is confident in whoever he chooses will help the team defeat the Netherlands.

“I try to talk to the players who are going to start the game, and the players who are not going to start the game,” he said.

“We are a group. You need to manage the group. It was the same with the first match – the players who will start and those who will be on the bench.

“Everyone has to be ready. I don’t think it’s anything special.”

In the Netherlands’ first game of Euro 2024, former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst came off the bench to score a late winner against Poland.

When asked if the striker will start, Koeman said: “Every match is different and we can make changes. Some players start the game, some players end it.

“You will see on Friday whether Weghorst starts or not.”

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman says France will be difficult to beat regardless of whether star striker Kylian Mbappe starts or not.

“Deschamps will know if Mbappe will play or not, we will have to wait and see,” he said, “France are such a strong team that even if Mbappe is not playing the substitute will play well as well.

“All I can focus on is our team and to prepare ourselves the best we can. Not everything depends on if Mbappe is there or not.”

Eberechi Eze insists England will keep calm and carry on at Euro 2024 after the team were jeered off the pitch following Thursday’s draw with Denmark.

Gareth Southgate’s side missed the chance to seal top spot in Group C with a game to spare as they laboured to a 1-1 draw in Frankfurt.

Harry Kane opened the scoring only for Morten Hjulmand to level before Denmark then controlled much of the contest, with a large number of England fans booing at full-time.

Eze came off the bench to make his tournament debut as Southgate attempted to inject a freshness into his team in the second half.