Poland had already been eliminated before the start of the match, but wanted to leave the European Championship with their heads held high. France wanted to win again to be crowned group leader. Ultimately, France and Poland share the points: 1-1
•Man of the Match: Lukasz Skorupuski made several good saves and was more than a worthy replacement for Szczesny.
•Key moment: France fully presses the accelerator after the break and takes the lead. Then Les Bleus let Poland back into the match, leveling the score.
•You will also remember him: Mbappé with a mask was the most striking figure on the field. He seemed extra motivated to make a difference today and, despite his broken nose, played the entire match. He tapped in the penalty and came close to a second goal several times.
Poland already lost against the Netherlands and Austria, but still wanted to end the European Championship on a high. That is why the Polish national coach decided to bring five new players into the starting eleven. Their final opponent was none other than France. Not an easy task, especially because Les Bleus had to win to advance to the eighth finals as group leader. For France, the masked Mbappé was back in the starting eleven after missing the match against the Netherlands due to a broken nose.
Photo: REUTERS
France starts the match strongly, but Poland is not impressed and defends well. In fact, they only create chances and Lewandowski even comes close to 1-0 just after the half hour. In the last ten minutes before half-time, Mbappé shifts up a gear and twice finds himself alone in front of the Polish goalkeeper Skorupski. It is the latter that keeps Polish hopes alive: 0-0 at halftime.
Pride before the fall
France is also in control at the beginning of the second half. It is captain Mbappé who poses the most danger. France forces Poland to make a mistake and Dembélé goes down in the box. Mbappé converts the penalty: 1-0.
Photo: AFP
France thinks the loot is in and is taking it easy. A big mistake because Poland comes back into the match and also gets a penalty. Lewandowski misses, but is allowed to retake the penalty because the French keeper was too quick off his line. Second time, lucky time because Lewandowski kicks the ball into the same corner but now it goes in: 1-1 with 10 minutes to go.
The flashy Mbappé from earlier is nowhere to be seen and although France is increasing the pressure again, the final score is set. France and Poland share the points, meaning France is second in group D after Austria and Poland can go home satisfied with a deserved point.
French national coach Deschamps was disappointed after the match: “We wanted to finish in first place, but for that we had to win. We did what we had to do by creating chances. We would have liked to be two goals ahead, but that didn’t work. The Polish keeper made some excellent saves, but we should have been more efficient.”
21-year-old Bradley Barcola was also critical: “I am satisfied with my performance, but I am convinced that I could have done better. I have to add something collective to the team and make my job and that of Dembélé easier.
Frankrijk: Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernadnez – Tchouaméni (81′ Fofana), Kanté (61′ Griezmann), Rabiot (61′ Camavigna) – Dembélé (86′ Muani), Mbappé, Barcola (61′ Giroud)
Poland: Skorupski- Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior – Frankowski, Moder, Zielinski, Zalewski (68′ Skóras) – Szymanski (68′ Swiderski), Lewandowski, Urbanski
Goals: 56′ Kylian Mbappé 0-1 (pen), 79′ Robert Lewandowski 1-1 (pen)
Yellow cards: 24′ Zalewski, 43′ Rabiot (suspended for the next match), 53′ Probierz, 89′ Dawidowicz, 90’+2 Swiderski
2024-06-25 19:09:00
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