France beat Netherlands to reach first semi final

France boss Corinne Diacre says her side "are here to build history" after overcoming defending champions the Netherlands in extra time to reach the semi-final of the Euros for the first time.

Eve Perisset finally broke the deadlock for Les Bleus from the spot in the 102nd minute to set up a last-four meeting with Germany in Milton Keynes on Wednesday.

That came after Kadidiatou Diani was fouled by Dominique Janssen inside the box, a decision given after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor.

The Dutch had somehow repelled wave after wave of French attack as goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar produced one of the tournament's standout solo displays, though she could not get a strong enough hand on Perisset's spot-kick.

Star forward Vivianne Miedema missed a rare chance of her own for the Netherlands but it was always France who looked more threatening and Grace Geyoro headed a glorious opportunity wide in the final moments of normal time.

"We have been rewarded for our effort," said Diacre. "We are here to build history - the players and staff want to make history for ourselves and there is still a bit of a way to go.

"This group is doing well, we have a semi-final to prepare for now, calmly, we will savour this moment and getting through and we are taking it step by step as always.

"We have reached a new level but that is not the end for us, we really want to reach the final. This squad wants to achieve something together, and that is our strength."

This was the third-best side in the world against the one ranked fourth, but for long periods the gulf in class seemed a lot wider as France dominated a match in which they racked up 33 efforts on goal.

Diacre said beforehand they would approach this encounter "with a sledgehammer" and that was how it appeared as they battered on the Dutch door from the off.

Chance after chance came and went after the dangerous Kadidiatou Diani first burst down the right during a swift counter attack only to be denied by Van Domselaar, something that would become a recurring theme.

The Dutch goalkeeper made another two saves in quick succession, first flinging herself through the air to tip away from her own defender Janssen's sliced clearance and then to deny Charlotte Bilbault from distance.

And when Van Domselaar could not thwart the French, defender Stefanie van der Gragt stepped up to do so - she turned Melvine Malard's effort off the line with her knees as somehow the Dutch clung on, and then foiled Geyoro moments later with another last-ditch clearance.

Van Domselaar continued to produce her shot-stopping heroics by palming away efforts from substitute Selma Bach and Wendie Renard after the break, also denying the latter with a finger-tip save in the final minutes of normal time.

The crucial moment eventually came in extra time, when Janssen caught Diani in a hopeful lunge that was not initially picked up by Ivana Martincic and instead flagged by the video assistant referee.

France have fallen at the quarter-final hurdle in their past three Euros, but Perisset's penalty was enough to break that run and send them into a semi-final with Germany.

Netherlands lack cutting edge

The Netherlands won this tournament under the guidance of Sarina Wiegman in 2017, reaching the World Cup final two years later, but current boss Mark Parsons said before the competition his evolving side are a work in progress.

Their hopes were boosted before the quarter-final by the return of Arsenal forward Miedema after a bout of Covid, but the 26-year-old cut an isolated figure for long spells as the Netherlands were forced to soak up pressure.

Miedema's one chance came in the first half from a corner, volleying over unmarked inside the box, and she struggled to shake off the attention of France centre-back Renard, who was impressive throughout.

When they did manage to eke out periods of possession the cutting edge was not there, and despite a valiant defensive effort and Van Domselaar's tournament-high 11 saves, their reign as European champions is over.

"I am unbelievably proud of the players and the staff, you saw the players give everything. There is not a player with an ounce of energy left," said Parsons.

"For us, continuing to build this special group that is forming, the future is bright, and I wish we could have shown that a bit more in this tournament - that wasn't meant to be."