France kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over a resilient Austrian side, but it came at a cost as captain Kylian Mbappé left the field bloodied with a suspected broken nose 😢.
In Didier Deschamps' 100th victory as coach of Les Bleus, France struggled to break down Austria's well-organized defense. It wasn't until the 38th minute that Mbappé's magic made the difference. The 25-year-old dazzled past three defenders on the wing and sent in a dangerous cross that forced Austria's Max Wöber to head the ball into his own net ⚽️.
Despite the lead, France couldn't relax. Mbappé missed a golden opportunity to double the advantage in the 54th minute, shocking everyone as he fired wide after sprinting through on goal 🙈.
Deschamps acknowledged the performance wasn't perfect but was pleased with the result. \"Happy with what the players did, even if we missed opportunities to double the tally,\" he said. \"There's quality and talent, but being solid and working together is also important.\"
However, the night took a turn when Mbappé exited the game late on, bleeding from the nose. \"[His] nose is not good at all. Even if it's just the nose, it's the big negative point for us tonight,\" Deschamps added.
France showed glimpses of their potential and, despite the setback, offered hope they can go deep into the tournament. Here's hoping Mbappé makes a speedy recovery! 🤞
Reference(s):
France beat battling Austria as Mbappe exits Euro 2024 game bloodied
cgtn.com
