Euro 2024:France narrowly wins the first match against Austria. As the UEFA Euro Cup 2024 unfolds, France, like other major teams, has comme...
Euro 2024:France narrowly wins the first match against Austria.
As the UEFA Euro Cup 2024 unfolds, France, like other major teams, has commenced their campaign with a victory. However, their opening match against Austria on Monday was not as convincing as expected. France managed to secure a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to an own goal by Austria. Without the mistake from the Austrian defender, France's victory might not have been secured. Kylian Mbappé and his teammates failed to find the back of the net, raising concerns over their missed opportunities. Had Austria capitalized on their chances, the outcome could have been different.
From the onset, France controlled the ball and advanced in attack. Their offensive moves began from the back, measuring and deciding on their attacks, which proved effective. Austria focused on their defensive stance, and the midfield saw a tussle between the two teams.Despite creating early chances, France failed to convert them. Conversely, Austria continued to launch regular attacks. The rhythm that characterized France's play in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, originating from midfield assaults, was missing.
In the past, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann controlled the game from the midfield for France. In this match, while Griezmann was present, the 'playmaker' role that Pogba once filled was noticeably absent. Even with the presence of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Marcus Thuram, opportunities were scarce. N'Golo Kanté and Adrien Rabiot were unable to create sufficient chances.
France took the lead in the first half. Around the 45-minute mark, Austria's rhythm faltered. France attacked from the right flank, with Mbappé bypassing the opposition's defender and floating the ball into the box. However, no teammate was within reach to capitalize. Attempting to clear the ball, Maximilian Wöber inadvertently directed it into his own net.
Early in the second half, Griezmann sustained an injury. During a struggle for ball possession, Wöber pushed him towards the sideline boards. Griezmann suffered a cut forehead and bleeding after colliding with the boards. Visibly upset, Griezmann returned to the field after a brief period with a bandaged head, despite the referee not issuing a yellow card for the incident.
This match has highlighted areas of concern for France as they progress in the tournament. The team will need to address these issues to harness their full potential and live up to their reputation as one of the favorites to win the Euro Cup. The narrow victory serves as a reminder that even the strongest teams must constantly evolve and adapt to maintain their edge in competitive football.
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