Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty on his return after breaking his nostril however Robert Lewandowski‘s reply meant France and Poland drew 1-1 of their closing group sport at Euro 2024 on Tuesday. The consequence, mixed with Austria’s 3-2 victory over the Netherlands on the identical time, means France end second in Group D with one win and two attracts. Carrying a masks to guard his injured nostril, Mbappe rolled in a spot-kick to place France forward early within the second half in Dortmund after Ousmane Dembele was introduced down within the Poland space. It was Mbappe’s first ever purpose at a European Championship, and the primary scored by a France participant at this yr’s event — their solely prior counter was an personal purpose by Austria’s Maximilian Woeber.
But Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time prime scorer who was himself beginning for the primary time at Euro 2024 after a thigh harm, equalised from a penalty on the different finish 11 minutes from time.
His first kick was saved by Mike Maignan, however Lewandowski was allowed a retake because the France goalkeeper got here off his line earlier than the ball had been struck.
France will now head to Duesseldorf for a last-16 tie subsequent Monday in opposition to the runners-up in Group E, which will probably be Belgium, Romania, Slovakia or Ukraine.
Extra considerably, they’re now on the identical facet of the draw as Portugal, Spain and Germany, which they might have prevented by topping the group.
Usually imprecise and missing in depth right here, the 2022 World Cup runners-up will definitely want to enhance on this efficiency, and their earlier group outings, if they’re to win the competitors.
Poland had already been eradicated earlier than this sport, turning into the primary crew to exit after dropping their opening two matches.
This consequence a minimum of allowed Michal Probierz’s facet to rescue some pleasure and gave some cheer to their massive assist.
It was not simply the return of the masked Mbappe — who missed France’s 0-0 draw with the Netherlands — that was notable when the line-ups had been introduced, with Antoine Griezmann unusually not noted of the beginning XI.
As a substitute Bradley Barcola acquired his first begin for his nation as coach Didier Deschamps went with the entrance three that performed collectively for Paris Saint-Germain over the previous season.
Lewandowski, returning to the stadium the place he made his identify with Borussia Dortmund a decade in the past, had one huge likelihood within the first half, heading extensive whereas unmarked from Piotr Zielinski‘s cross.
Mbappe spent a lot of the opening interval struggling to get into the sport, sometimes stopping to regulate his masks, and eradicating it solely throughout a drinks break in sweltering circumstances.
Theo Hernandez was the primary France participant to check Lukasz Skorupski, beginning in purpose as an alternative of Wojciech Szczesny who is about to retire from the Poland crew quickly after the Euros.
In the meantime Mbappe began to come back to life in direction of the top of the opening half.
On two separate events he shortly exchanged passes with Barcola on the left facet of the field earlier than having a shot saved by Skorupski.
The Bologna goalkeeper then dived to his left to maintain out a trademark Mbappe roller simply after the restart, however there was nothing he may do in regards to the penalty which broke the impasse on 56 minutes.
Dembele’s finish product had been virtually non-existent till he produced a burst of tempo on the correct as he broke into the field, and all Jakub Kiwior may do was chop him down.
Italian referee Marco Guida instantly pointed to the spot, and Mbappe rolled in his kick earlier than eradicating his masks as he ran off to have fun.
But Poland didn’t lie down, and gained a penalty of their very own when substitute Karol Swiderski was tripped by Dayot Upamecano.
The referee initially waved play on, earlier than altering his thoughts and pointing to the spot after being coaxed throughout to the VAR monitor.
Maignan saved Lewandowski’s first try after a stuttering run-up, however the Barcelona striker made no mistake on the second time of asking.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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