Superstar Mbappé is back and scores his first goal of the tournament. Otherwise, the title contender did not do enough in the final European Championship group match against Poland. Robert Lewandowski scores at the second attempt.
Kylian Mbappé left the pitch with his head slightly bowed. Even the masked superstar’s first European Championship goal did not help France’s delicate footballers to first place in the complicated Group D.
The new signing from Real Madrid was back in the French starting eleven after breaking his nose and put the title contenders in the lead with a converted penalty in the 56th minute. But because Robert Lewandowski also equalized with a penalty (79th) for the previously eliminated Poland, the Équipe Tricolore had to settle for a 1:1 (0:0) draw and thus second place behind Austria.
France coach Didier Deschamps said he was not frustrated after the match in Dortmund. “Of course we wanted to be first, but to do that we had to win.” They certainly created chances, but Poland’s goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski also made good saves. They had to accept second place. “Now the competition starts again.”
Another legend before Mbappé
With 13 goals at World or European Championships, Mbappé has now equalled Just Fontaine. Only the legendary Michel Platini has scored one more goal for France at major tournaments. In the round of 16, the French will face the second-placed team in Group E. All four teams – Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine – are on three points before the final matchday on Wednesday.
It took Mbappé a while to get used to playing with a face mask. The attacking star seemed unusually inhibited and held back in the duels. It was only shortly before half-time that the 25-year-old turned on the turbo twice and had two good chances. Both times, Poland’s goalkeeper Skorupski prevented Mbappé from scoring his first goal of the tournament with good reactions.
Otherwise, both teams offered a semi-entertaining summer kick in the first round. The already eliminated Poles did not hide and wanted to offer their 20,000 compatriots in the stadium something at the end of a disappointing tournament.
For the first time during the European Championship, Robert Lewandowski was in the starting eleven. The former Munich and Dortmund player had missed the opening match against the Netherlands due to thigh problems and had only been substituted on against Austria. Now the Poland star was back, which was good for his team’s game. In the 34th minute, Lewandowski, who was wearing bandages on his thigh, almost put Poland in the lead, but his header narrowly missed the French goal.
Lewandowski wants to continue
Despite the disappointing European Championship for him, the FC Barcelona striker had already made it clear before the match that he would continue his career in the national team. “I still feel this fire inside me. Maybe one day I’ll wake up and say: I have to retire from the Polish national team.” But that moment has not yet come. “Tomorrow is not my last game,” the 35-year-old said.
Against France, the veteran disappeared more and more after the break. Mbappé was the centre of attention instead. The mask no longer seemed to hinder the attacker. Four minutes after the break, the lightning-fast striker missed again. Seven minutes later, however, he put the title contenders in the lead with a penalty after Ousmane Dembélé had been fouled. Mbappé took off his mask as he celebrated the goal.
France now seemed to be on track, but then Lewandowski made another appearance. First, he failed with a penalty shot that was taken far too casually by France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan. But because the goalkeeper left the line too early, Lewandowski was given a second chance and used it to equalize.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
