France vs Austria: France began their Euro 2024 campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Austria in Group D, courtesy of an own goal by Max Wober. However, the win was overshadowed by an injury to star player Kylian Mbappé, raising concerns about his future participation in the tournament. Despite the injury scare, Didier Deschamps’ team managed to secure the three points, though they had several opportunities to extend their lead.
100th win for Didier Deschamps
The match marked a milestone for Didier Deschamps, who celebrated his 100th victory as manager of the French national team. France faced a determined and well-organized Austrian side that made them work hard for the win. The decisive moment came just before half-time when Leeds United defender Max Wober inadvertently nodded Mbappé’s cross past his own goalkeeper, Patrick Pentz, to give France the lead.
Three years after their disappointing exit in the round of 16 at Euro 2020 to Switzerland, France showed enough promise to suggest they could have a deeper run in this tournament. However, it was a bittersweet evening for their captain, Mbappé. Despite his dazzling performance, which included a key role in Wober’s own goal, Mbappé left the pitch bloodied with a suspected broken nose.
Kylian Mbape’s impact in France vs Austria
On his 80th appearance for Les Bleus, the 25-year-old winger was instrumental in breaking Austria’s defense. In the 38th minute, his skillful dribble past three defenders led to the cross that Wober misjudged, resulting in the own goal. Despite this, Mbappé was still searching for his first goal in a European Championship.
Euro over for Mbappe?
The second half saw Mbappé miss a golden opportunity to secure a more comfortable lead for France. In the 54th minute, he surprisingly shot wide after breaking through on goal, leaving everyone in the stadium in disbelief. Later, in a chaotic end to the match, Mbappé took a shoulder to the face, leading to a suspected broken nose. After receiving treatment and briefly returning to the pitch, he was shown a yellow card for sitting down due to the pain, and was eventually substituted, adding to concerns about the severity of his injury.
Austria’s resilience despite own goal
Austria, under coach Ralf Rangnick, remained true to their promise of a high-energy, relentless pressing game. With only one defeat in their last 16 matches, they made life difficult for France. Austria nearly took the lead before Wober’s own goal when Christoph Baumgartner’s shot, assisted by Marcel Sabitzer, was deflected wide by French goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France became more dynamic in the second half, with Pentz making a crucial save from Marcus Thuram. However, Austria’s resilience and belief kept them in the contest, with their fans providing loud support. Despite their possession and effort, Austria struggled to create clear chances, partly due to the outstanding performance of N’Golo Kanté. The midfielder, returning to the French squad, delivered a masterful display, solidifying his place in the heart of the team.
As the final whistle blew, France could be satisfied with the three points but concerned about Mbappé’s health. Austria, despite their hard work and pressing, could not find the back of the net. Their efforts were commendable, but France’s experience and individual talent ultimately made the difference. As the tournament progresses, both teams will look to build on this match, with France aiming to go deeper and Austria hoping to turn their tenacity into points.
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