Euro 2024: Lucky France go past Austria in group opener
France started their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Austria in Group D, thanks to an own goal by Austria’s Max Wober.
The only goal came when Wober, a defender for Leeds United, accidentally headed Kylian Mbappe’s cross into his own net. France held on to this lead despite some late drama.
Austria, revitalized under coach Ralf Rangnick, played well in the first half. Christoph Baumgartner had a great chance to score, but France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a crucial save. Soon after, Mbappe’s cross led to Wober’s own goal.
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In the second half, France focused on counter-attacks, with Mbappe almost doubling the lead but missing a good opportunity. Austria tried hard to find an equalizer but couldn’t break through France’s defense.
A concern for France was Mbappe’s injury late in the game. He injured his nose in a clash with an Austrian player and was substituted. Coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that Mbappe’s nose might be broken, calling it a “black mark” on an otherwise good night.
N’Golo Kante stood out with a great performance, showing he’s still a key player for France. At 33, he proved his quality and experience, helping secure the win.
France will aim high in Euro 2024, while Austria, despite the loss, showed promise and will look to advance from Group D.
