NEW DELHI: France secured a 1-0 victory over Austria in their opening
Euro 2024
match on Monday, but the win was overshadowed by a significant injury to star player
Kylian Mbappe
.
Maximilian Woeber
's own goal in the 38th minute proved decisive, giving France an early advantage in Group C.
Austria, under the guidance of
Ralf Rangnick
, presented a formidable challenge, frequently disrupting France's rhythm and limiting their attacking opportunities.
Mbappe himself missed a golden opportunity to extend France's lead before his unfortunate injury.
In the closing stages of the match, Mbappe collided heavily with Austrian defender
Kevin Danso
while contesting an aerial ball. The impact left Mbappe with a visibly broken nose and significant bleeding. He received immediate medical attention and was forced to leave the field, visibly shaken and in discomfort.
French coach
Didier Deschamps
confirmed the severity of the injury, stating that Mbappe's nose was "a mess." While the full extent of the injury remains unclear, early reports suggest surgery will not be required.
"He is in a bad way. He is not well. His nose is a mess, that's for sure. That is the black mark of the evening for us," Deschamps said, as quoted by AFP.
However, Mbappe's availability for France's upcoming match against the Netherlands on Friday is in doubt.
Deschamps acknowledged the impact of Mbappe's absence. Nevertheless, he remained optimistic about France's prospects, stating, "We have quality and talent, but we need to remain solid as well."
Boasting an impressive record of only one loss in their previous sixteen games, Austria entered their match against France with a clear game plan: high-intensity pressing and unwavering physicality.
Coached by Ralf Rangnick, known for his aggressive tactical approach, the Austrians remained true to their pre-game promise, delivering a performance that challenged the reigning world champions until the final whistle.
While France ultimately secured the victory, Austria's performance was commendable. Post-match, Rangnick acknowledged the French victory, commenting, "All in all the French earned the win, but that we were chasing the equaliser throughout speaks for the performance of our team."
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