France kicked off their UEFA Euro 2024 journey with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Austria in Düsseldorf on Tuesday night.
The reigning World Cup champions faced a tough challenge against a determined and well-organized Austrian team but managed to secure all three points.
The first half saw both teams creating good opportunities in an evenly matched contest.
Austria’s Baumgartner came close to scoring for the underdogs, but his shot from a well-placed ball over the top was expertly saved by France’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan.
In a crucial moment just before half-time, France managed to score the opening goal through an own goal by Maximilian Wöber.
Mbappé’s skillful play on the right side, evading Mwene, led to a cross that Wöber unintentionally redirected into his own net, giving France the lead.
Austria came out strong in the second half, pressing France intensely and creating promising situations.
However, Les Bleus’ defense, led by the excellent William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano, remained solid. On the attacking front, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram had opportunities to increase France’s lead as the game progressed.
Despite this, Mbappé missed a clear one-on-one chance, narrowly missing the target.
Ultimately, Didier Deschamps’ team secured a 1-0 victory, with N’Golo Kante’s outstanding performance in midfield playing a significant role.
Kante’s exceptional display earned him the player of the match title, showcasing his ability to disrupt opponents and create opportunities for France’s attackers.
Austria’s spirited performance bodes well for their upcoming group matches against Poland and the Netherlands.
Ralf Rangnick’s high-intensity tactics troubled France at times, and Austria may feel they deserved more from their impressive overall showing.
