France secured a milestone 100th victory for manager Didier Deschamps with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Austria in their Euro 2024 Group D opener. However, the triumph was marred by a suspected broken nose for their star player, Kylian Mbappe. If you’re passionate about following such thrilling matches, explore the India 1xbet website for the latest odds and opportunities related to France’s upcoming matches and their potential progress in the tournament.
However, it wasn’t France’s finest performance. The match’s only goal came from an own goal by Austria’s Max Wober just before halftime, enough to draw France level with the Netherlands, whom they face next. Despite this lackluster display, France showed signs they might advance further than their last-16 exit at Euro 2020 against Switzerland.
Captain Mbappe had a night to forget. Not only did he fail to score his first European Championship goal despite several chances, but he also left the pitch bloodied and dazed. “He has a seriously bad nose injury,” Deschamps stated. “We’ll have to wait for the medical staff to assess it. This is really bad news for us tonight.”
Mbappe’s 80th game for Les Bleus saw him dazzling past three defenders before delivering a cross that Wober inadvertently headed into his own net. However, Mbappe missed a golden opportunity in the 54th minute, going clean through on goal only to miss, much to the crowd’s surprise.
In the closing minutes, a collision left Mbappe with a shoulder to the face. After briefly returning to the pitch, he lay down again, prompting a substitution amid the chaotic end to an always engaging, if not pretty, match.
Austria 0-1 France: Match Highlights
Austria’s coach, Ralf Rangnick, had vowed his team would match France’s intensity, and they did just that. Austria’s high pressing and relentless tackling kept them in contention until the end of an extended stoppage time.
Rangnick remarked, “All in all, the French earned the win, but that we were chasing the equalizer throughout speaks for the performance of our team.” Austria almost scored first when Marcel Sabitzer set up Christoph Baumgartner, whose shot was deflected by France’s keeper, Mike Maignan.
France showed more dynamism after halftime, with Pentz saving a shot from Marcus Thuram. However, the pre-tournament favorites frequently squandered promising opportunities.
Mbappe injury overshadowed the game, but France drew positives from N’Golo Kante’s return. The 2018 World Cup winner, back after a two-year absence, delivered a stellar performance in midfield, often thwarting Austria’s advances. “It starts well. Everything was not perfect, but we had the result we wanted. There are solid foundations,” Kante said. “It makes me happy to be back. Although things have changed, it feels great to wear this jersey again.
Despite Austria’s hard work and possession, they struggled to create clear chances, with Kante frequently blocking their way.