Watch France vs Austria Live: Highlights and Recap of France’s 1-0 Victory at Euro 2024
Euro 2024 kicked off with a thrilling encounter as France secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Austria in their opening match. The game, held on Monday afternoon at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, was highly anticipated, with both teams showcasing their talents and determination on the European stage.
France’s lone goal came courtesy of an own goal by Austria’s Maximilian Wober in the 38th minute. This decisive moment was a result of Kylian Mbappé’s relentless pressure, as his cross from the right caused confusion in the Austrian defense, leading to the unfortunate own goal.
Despite the slim margin, France dominated large portions of the game, particularly in the first half. Superstar Kylian Mbappé, returning to international duty after winning the Golden Boot in the 2022 World Cup, was a constant threat to the Austrian defense. Early in the match, Mbappé’s pace and precision were evident as he pushed into the penalty box and fired a shot on goal, only to be denied by Austria’s goalkeeper Patrick Pentz.
One of the most dramatic moments came late in the game when Mbappé suffered a facial injury after a clash with Austria’s Kevin Danso. The incident, which left Mbappé with a bleeding nose, raised concerns about his fitness for the remainder of the tournament. To add to the drama, Mbappé received a yellow card for re-entering the pitch without the fourth referee’s permission, putting him at risk of suspension if he accumulates another yellow card before the end of the quarter-finals.
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan also played a crucial role in France’s victory. In the 78th minute, Maignan took a hard shot to the face but managed to preserve his clean sheet with a spectacular save. His efforts, combined with a solid defensive performance from William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano, ensured that Austria’s attacking threats were effectively neutralized.
France’s defensive solidity was a standout feature of the match. Saliba and Upamecano held down the central defense, while Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez thrived in the wide positions. N’Golo Kante, who was named Man of the Match, was instrumental in midfield, making crucial tackles and covering immense ground to support both defense and attack.
On the Austrian side, Nicolas Seiwald made an impressive eight tackles, the most by an Austrian player at a major tournament since 1982. Austria’s coach Ralf Rangnick praised his team’s performance, highlighting the strong showing of their goalkeeper Patrick Pentz and the overall defensive discipline.
With this victory, France set the tone for their Euro 2024 campaign. They will next face the Netherlands on June 21 in Leipzig, a match that promises to be a significant test for both teams. Meanwhile, Austria will look to bounce back against Poland in a crucial encounter that could determine their chances of advancing to the knockout stages.