Kylian Mbappé marked his return to the European Championship in dramatic fashion, scoring a goal for France against Poland while wearing a protective mask for his broken nose. However, his усилия weren’t enough to secure a victory as France was held to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday. This result not only underscores France’s ongoing struggles at Euro 2024 but also sees them finish as runners-up in Group D.
Mbappé, celebrating in front of the French fans, removed his black mask after converting a penalty in the 56th minute. This was his first ever goal at a European Championship. Yet, Poland responded when Robert Lewandowski scored a penalty in the 79th minute, after initially missing but being given a retake. This draw means France finishes second to Austria in Group D and lands in a challenging side of the bracket for the knockout stages, potentially facing football powerhouses like Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo, host nation Germany, and Spain. Football fans keenly following Euro Scores 2024 will note this unexpected turn of events for the French team.
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In another Group D match played simultaneously, Austria defeated the Netherlands 3-2, further shaking up the group standings. For France, the draw against Poland highlights a worrying trend: they are yet to score a goal from open play at Euro 2024. Their only previous goal was an own goal in the 1-0 victory against Austria. They also drew 0-0 with the Netherlands in a match Mbappé missed due to his nose injury sustained against Austria.
Despite advancing to the knockout stage, France’s performances have been far from convincing. Coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the need for improvement. “I would be a lot more concerned if there were no chances, but obviously there is a little bit of room for improvement,” Deschamps stated. “Maybe there are other teams who have given off something a bit different, but the fact we haven’t scored limits our performance. We are here where we want to be.” The pressure is mounting on Les Bleus as they progress in the tournament, with fans and analysts questioning if they can rediscover their scoring touch. The euro scores 2024 results so far suggest a more open and competitive tournament than many predicted.
Mbappé’s return to the starting lineup against Poland, who were already eliminated from Euro 2024, was highly anticipated. Wearing the black mask, however, visibly impacted his game. The mask restricted his peripheral vision, and he appeared to avoid physical duels and aerial challenges. Often, he positioned himself on the edge of the box, waiting for the ball to come to him, rather than actively seeking opportunities.
Deschamps admitted that playing with the mask was “complicated” for Mbappé. “I thought he was quite good on his feet with the mask — he needed to get used to it,” the coach commented. “But when he sweats, that sticks in his eyes and he needed to wipe his eyes.” Despite these challenges, Mbappé remained France’s most potent attacking threat. He earned and converted the penalty after Ousmane Dembele was fouled in the box, finally breaking his six-game goal drought in major international tournaments, including four matches at Euro 2020 and two at Euro 2024. This was his 48th goal for the French national team, a significant milestone in his already illustrious career.
Mbappé played the entire match, starting centrally before shifting to the left wing, in what was another generally underwhelming team performance from France. As two-time European champions and the 2022 World Cup runners-up, much more is expected of them. Their next challenge will be against the runner-up from Group E in the round of 16 on July 1, which could be Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, or Ukraine. Looking at the euro scores 2024 bracket, a tougher path awaits France should they advance further.
For Poland, already out of contention, the draw was a bittersweet moment. Robert Lewandowski, likely playing in his last European Championship at 36 years old, managed to score a goal. His penalty, however, was not without drama. Initially saved by French goalkeeper Mike Maignan, the penalty was ordered to be retaken because Maignan was off his line. Lewandowski converted the second attempt, finding the bottom corner for his 83rd international goal. Interestingly, a similar situation occurred against France at the World Cup, where Lewandowski also scored on a retaken penalty against Hugo Lloris.
While France advances to the next round, questions linger about their attacking prowess and overall form. For fans tracking euro scores 2024, France’s journey promises to be a compelling narrative as the tournament progresses.
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