Euro 2024 Scores: France Draws with Poland, Mbappe Returns with a Goal

Kylian Mbappé, despite wearing a protective mask due to a recent nose injury, scored a penalty against Poland in his return to Euro 2024. However, Robert Lewandowski’s late penalty kick secured a 1-1 draw for Poland, leaving France second in Group D. This result places them in a challenging bracket for the knockout stage, alongside football powerhouses like Portugal, Germany, and Spain.

France secured their place in the next round but their performances have been less than stellar. Their victory against Austria came from an own goal and they drew 0-0 with the Netherlands in Mbappé’s absence. The draw against Poland means France has yet to score from open play in the tournament, raising concerns about their attacking prowess.

Austria’s 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in a simultaneous match solidified France’s second-place finish in Group D. This sets up a potentially difficult path to the Euro 2024 final.

France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the need for improvement, stating that while he’s not overly concerned about the lack of goals due to the creation of chances, there’s room to enhance their performance. He emphasized that the team is where they want to be – qualified for the next round.

Mbappé’s return to the starting lineup was marked by the protective mask he wore, which visibly hampered his movement and ability to contest aerial balls. He often stayed back, waiting for the ball instead of actively engaging in physical challenges.

Deschamps admitted the mask posed difficulties for Mbappé, particularly with sweat affecting his vision. Despite this, Mbappé remained a threat and eventually converted a penalty after Ousmane Dembélé was fouled in the box. This marked Mbappé’s first goal in six Euro tournament matches and his 48th goal for France overall.

Despite Mbappé’s goal and playing the full 90 minutes, France delivered another lackluster performance. Their next match is against the runner-up of Group E, which could be Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, or Ukraine. The round of 16 clash is scheduled for July 1st. After that, the competition significantly intensifies for the two-time European champions and 2022 World Cup finalists.

For Poland, already eliminated before the match, Lewandowski’s late penalty offered a consolation. The veteran striker, in what was likely his final European Championship appearance, needed two attempts to score after his first penalty was saved by Mike Maignan but ordered to be retaken due to the goalkeeper coming off his line early. Lewandowski converted the second penalty, bringing his international goal tally to 83. Interestingly, a similar scenario unfolded during the World Cup against France, where Lewandowski also scored on a retaken penalty against then-goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.