Maximilian Woeber’s own goal was enough to give France a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday, beating Austria 1-0 in their opening game, but Kylian Mbappe came off late with his nose in bleeding. Woeber deflected Mbappé’s clearance into his own net seven minutes before half-time in Duesseldorf to give the French side, one of the main contenders for victory in the tournament, a tough test. Austria have improved greatly under Ralf Rangnick and their pressing game has often made life uncomfortable for the 2022 World Cup runners-up, who saw Mbappe leave the field towards the end after being injured in a collision. Previously, he had failed to realize a glorious opportunity that would have allowed France to win by a wider margin.
Although Les Bleus were not at their best, they will be relieved to have emerged victorious from the game, after a preparation overshadowed by conversations about politics rather than football.
Mbappe and other French players have spent much of their time in front of the media in recent days answering questions about the country’s upcoming elections, which could see the far-right National Rally become the biggest party.
Any slip-up here would have led to suggestions that their minds were not fully focused on the competition, as France aim to become European champions for the third time, and the first since 2000.
Instead, the result leaves Didier Deschamps’ side level on three points in Group D with the Netherlands, who beat Poland 2-1 in Hamburg on Sunday.
France and the Netherlands face each other in Leipzig on Friday, while Austria faces Poland on the same day in Berlin.
Austria have achieved impressive results at the start of the tournament, with a seven-game unbeaten run, and their team are on familiar ground during the Euros – their coach, Rangnick, is from Germany and eight of his starters played in the German Bundesliga last season . .
The French, however, are arguably the most talented team in the tournament, led by their captain Mbappe.
He had a difficult time in his only previous Euro three years ago, failing to score and missing the decisive penalty in the round of 16 shootout defeat to Switzerland.
Real Madrid’s new signing will wonder why he didn’t score in this game, with his first big opportunity coming after just eight minutes.
Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez combined to free Mbappe, who cut in from the left as he loves to do and prepared to fire into the far corner before pointing at the near post.
However, Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz managed to make the save.
The Austrians adapted to the game and wasted an excellent opportunity to advance in the 36th minute.
Captain Marcel Sabitzer connected Michael Gregoritsch’s cross from the left to Christoph Baumgartner, but it was thwarted by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
This proved crucial as France went ahead two minutes later.
Ousmane Dembele fed the ball to Mbappe on the right, and he took a step to reach the byline before his cutback was nodded into the far corner of his own net by the hapless Woeber.
Mbappe was then thwarted by Pentz as he tried to round the keeper in first-half stoppage time, but that was nothing compared to the chance he wasted 10 minutes after the restart.
Adrien Rabiot sent off Mbappe, leaping behind the Austrian defence, but somehow he shot wide, with just the goalkeeper to tap it.
This left the game in the balance and Austria continued to fight for a draw, but without success.
His fans were less than impressed with what they saw as a waste of time from Mbappe, who required treatment after colliding with Kevin Danso in the box.
He left the field with his shirt stained with blood, only to return and sit down, earning a yellow card before being replaced by Olivier Giroud.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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