France opened their Euro 2024 marketing campaign with a 1-0 win over Austria in Group D because of a Max Wobber personal aim.
The Leeds United defender nodded previous his personal goalkeeper as he tried to clear Kylian Mbappe’s cross. Didier Deschamps’ aspect had probabilities to increase their lead however, as with England, one aim proved to be sufficient to win.
Austria come into the sport having misplaced simply certainly one of their earlier 16 video games and seem to have been reborn underneath Ralf Rangnick, adopting his urgent fashion. It served them nicely for many of the first half and Christoph Baumgartner ought to have opened the scoring.
However France goalkeeper Mike Magnan saved it from point-blank vary and Austria instantly paid for it. Mbappe received to the byline on the suitable and Wobber may solely flip the cross past his keeper and into the web.
The lead at half-time allowed France to play on the counter within the second half, which introduced apparent hazard to Austria. Mbappe ought to have doubled the lead when he raced clear however may solely measure his shot huge.
It was a good closing with France’s incapability to seek out that second, however Austria have been unable to create a transparent begin. The rating will nonetheless be assessing their possibilities of getting out of Group D. France will in fact have a lot greater aspirations.
Star participant: Kante nonetheless has the outdated magic
There was a second within the eighty fifth minute of the sport when Patrick Wimmer raced in from deep and it appeared like Austria may equalise. The remainder of the protection was overwhelmed down, however not by the magnificent N’Golo Kante.
It was typical of one other very good efficiency from an incredible midfielder – typical of the work he has put in all through his stellar profession.
A Premier League winner with Leicester, he repeated the feat with Chelsea so as to add the Champions League crown. He already received the World Cup with France, and primarily based on that, I do not rule out the European Championship as nicely.
Now 33 years outdated, many are questioning how in form he has been since enjoying his soccer within the Saudi Skilled League. However the tempo remains to be there and the expertise is nice. He retains that means to sense hazard and the physicality to do one thing about it.
Statistics: Historical past of the match
Whereas in Group D…
