France’s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe made a triumphant return to the pitch after breaking his nose by scoring a penalty goal in a 1-1 draw against Poland at the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament. The match, held in Dortmund, saw Mbappe removing his protective mask to celebrate with the French fans after converting the penalty in the 56th minute, marking his first goal at a European Championship. However, despite his efforts, France was unable to secure first place in Group D.
The game took an intense turn when Poland’s Robert Lewandowski had a penalty saved by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan in the 77th minute. Despite this setback, Lewandowski managed to find the back of the net with his second attempt, resulting in a draw between the two teams. As a result, France finished as the runner-up in the group behind Austria and will face the runner-up of Group E in the last 16 on July 1.
France has been struggling to score open-play goals at Euro 2024, having previously won a game with an own goal and drawn another match. Mbappe, who missed a game due to injury, returned to the starting lineup against Poland. Although he was clearly impacted by wearing a mask that limited his peripheral vision, Mbappe remained France’s most dangerous attacker on the field.
Despite his limitations, Mbappe managed to find the back of the net after Ousmane Dembele was tripped in the area, allowing France to salvage a draw against Poland. The game saw Mbappe start as a central striker before transitioning to the left-wing, showcasing his versatility and determination on the field. However, the overall performance of the French team was lackluster, raising concerns about their form in the tournament.
France, a two-time European champion and the World Cup runner-up in 2022, will need to improve their performance in the knockout stages to advance further in the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament. With Mbappe leading the attack, the French team will be looking to overcome their scoring struggles and secure victories in the upcoming matches. Despite the challenges they have faced so far, France remains a strong contender in the competition, and fans will be eagerly anticipating their next game.
