First, we need to understand the meaning of the word Friend. It's a 6 letter word, really, but the connection that it implies is what matters. Its a word that is really banalized these days, as in all social medias we have hundreds/thousands of "friends". Being a friend really is different of having a good relation with one another. You may know lots of people, but true friends are among a small number of those, like 3 to 5. Always.
Now to the question: Actually, its pretty hard to answer. Each case is a specific case, and each man/woman is a specific man/woman.
In a couple, It all starts/started with a good relation that became a friendship, that is core. All of the most succesfull couples I know were and still are, great friends, thats why its so important to understand what friendship is/means. Success in a relationship is not defined through time spent together, but for how healthy the relationship is as it grows.
Friends sacrifice and do things for/with one another, and the principle is the same for when you are in a couple. If a man or woman really are willing to go that way for one another, I find it really hard for them not to already be a couple, or to become one. Someway, somehow, it happens, or at least, the potencial is there. Or not, I'll talk about that. Friendship is way deeper than having a nice relation with someone.
Now, talking about a fresh friendship relation, from my experience, I see one of the sides always trying a different approach to the other over time, as the relation grows. If the other one responds positively, thats nice, the path is open for a new couple if both invest into it; if not, the friendship relation remains, with the other side knowing now that there is a boundarie to it. When this happens, the relationship stagnates.
Not on the bad meaning, of course. It doesn't mean that you'll no longer have a good relation with the person, but one (commonly) ceases to insist in creating a relation/feeling that may never exist. We can say that that's when a good relation between man and woman happens. They can really be friends, but I don't know if the one who tried something more will invest on this relation, as a true friend would. Platonic relationships are off here, so the relation remais, but doesn't go beyond that point.
And, of course, as the life is not a linear draft, anything can happen so that the relation goes the other side, making the once "just friends" thought go to "hmmm, what if? Maybe.". But the other one may have moved on and found someone, who knows.
All in all, one side will always try to approach the other differently somewhere, someday, in the most subtle or straight up ways, to see if the relationship can go beyond "just friends". Instinctively, and/or intentionaly. Natural attraction is always there.
I'm not trying to answer NO to the question. Instead, based on my experience, acquired through my past relationships, I can say that each case is a specific case, and each man/woman is a specific man/woman. There is no right answer to this. :horde:
That's my opinion on the subject.
P.S.: Long post, I know. Sorry. Let me throw some images so the reading can be smoother. :happy: