France’s Euro 2024 campaign began with a narrow and unconvincing 1-0 victory over Austria.
Despite the win, Didier Deschamps’ side failed to impress, with several key players underperforming.
Here are five critical takeaways from France’s lackluster opener, shedding light on the challenges and concerns that lie ahead for Les Bleus.
1. Kylian Mbappe’s Mixed Night
Real Madrid’s latest acquisition had a crucial involvement, delivering the cross that led to Austria’s own goal.
However, his missed one-on-one chance against Patrick Pentz underscored an uncharacteristic lack of composure.
To compound matters, Mbappe exited early due to a suspected broken nose, leaving fans and Deschamps concerned.
- Defensive Resilience
Mike Maignan’s critical save from Christoph Baumgartner highlighted France’s defensive sturdiness. Despite not being overly troubled, Maignan’s timely intervention was pivotal.
Theo Hernandez’s attacking prowess added another dimension, frequently driving forward and linking up play, earning him the highest rating among the defenders.
- Midfield Mixed Bag
N’Golo Kante’s return proved decisive. His high-energy performance, marked by key interceptions and dynamic breaks, earned him the Man of the Match award.
Conversely, Adrien Rabiot’s fitness issues were evident as his influence waned, necessitating an early substitution.
- Forward Line Flounders
The forward trio of Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, and Marcus Thuram failed to impress. Dembele’s pace posed problems, but his end product remained erratic.
Griezmann had an off night, struggling with possession and suffering a facial injury. Thuram’s decision-making was poor, highlighting the forward line’s overall inefficacy.
- Managerial Concerns
Didier Deschamps’ side may have secured three points, but the manner of the victory raised questions.
France’s inability to dominate midfield and their profligacy in attack are issues Deschamps must address. The substitutes failed to influence the game significantly, suggesting a lack of depth or readiness among the bench players.
In essence, while France’s ability to grind out a win is commendable, the performance left much to be desired, with clear areas needing improvement ahead of tougher tests.