Kylian Mbappe opened his European Championship account from the penalty spot on Tuesday, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to seal prime spot for France as their 1-1 draw with Poland noticed Les Bleus fall to second place in Group D.
Regardless of his ludicrous file on the World Cup – 12 objectives in 14 video games – Mbappe headed into the assembly with Poland nonetheless on the hunt for his first Euros objective, though that’s largely as a result of France’s poor efficiency within the competitors throughout his worldwide profession.
Certainly, whereas this was Mbappe’s eightieth cap for France, it was simply his sixth look on the Euros. Les Bleus flopped at Euro 2020, tumbling out on the group stage, whereas even this summer time’s match bought off to a gradual begin and even noticed Mbappe sidelined with a damaged nostril.
Sporting a protecting masks, Mbappe got here out decided to make an impression and, after Didier Deschamps’ facet dominated the primary half, the breakthrough got here shortly after the break when the superb Ousmane Dembele went down within the field.
Sensing there can be no higher probability to bag his first Euros objective, Mbappe stepped as much as the spot and duly transformed, whipping his masks off in celebration.
France would, nevertheless, come undone with ten minutes to go as Robert Lewandowski slotted house a penalty of his personal, having been granted a retake after Mike Maignan left his line early to save lots of the Barcelona striker’s preliminary effort.
With Austria beautiful the Netherlands 3-2 and ending prime of the group, France needed to accept second place, having gained simply certainly one of their three group video games.
France are but to reside as much as expectations this summer time. They’d an personal objective to thank for his or her win over Austria and went goalless in a draw with the Netherlands, earlier than their solitary strike in opposition to Poland got here from the penalty spot.