France had Kylian Mbappe to thank for their gritty 1-0 win over Austria to begin their Euro 2024 Group D challenge, but an injury to their talismanic forward will be a huge concern for Les Bleus.
In a performance that lacked plenty of the sharpness that was expected from one of the tournament's leading contenders, Didier Deschamps' side were the latest team to come away with a hard-fought victory in Dusseldorf, but of far more concern is the status of their star man. Mbappe was forced out of the action late in the second half with what appeared to be a badly bleeding broken nose following a sickening collision.
The Real Madrid man went down in a crumpled heap in the 86th minute after smashing his head against an Austrian defender's shoulder while attempting to direct the ball on goal. He was bleeding heavily before being substituted off, and his status for the rest of the tournament is now unclear.
Earlier, Mbappe had already been the focal point of the action, as he forced the only goal of the match when he pressured Austria's Max Wober into a finish that what would have been considered a contender for one of the most clinical finishes of tournament so far, had it not been into his own net.
Yet the expected France onslaught did not arrive. The trademark Ralf Rangnick high press of Austria caused France numerous problems throughout, with Les Bleus goalkeeper Mike Maignan forced into action on several occasions — most notably to deny Christoph Baumgartner just a few minutes before France went in front.
MORE: Euro 2024 schedule and results, updated LIVE | How to watch all the Euro 2024 action
France vs. Austria final score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| France | 1 | Wober (38', OG) |
| Austria | 0 |
Venue: Merkur Spiel-Arena (Dusseldorf)
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain)
Lineups:
France (4-3-3): 16. Maignan (GK) — 5. Kounde, 17. Saliba, 4. Upamecano, 22. T. Hernandez — 7. Griezmann, 13. Kante, 14. Rabiot (Camavinga, 71') — 11. Dembele (Kolo Muani, 71'), 15. Thuram, 10. Mbappe (Giroud, 90').
Austria (4-2-3-1): 13. Pentz (GK) — 5. Posch, 4. Danso, 2. Wober, 16. Mwene — 10. Grillitsch, 6. Siewald — 20. Laimer, 9. Sabitzer, 19. Baumgartner — 11. Gregoritsch.
MORE: Mbappe, Ronaldo and the biggest stars at Euro 2024
France vs. Austria live updates, highlights from Euro 2024
FULLTIME: France 1-0 Austria
It's a gritty victory for France, who, like England 24 hours earlier, looked far from their best but managed to come away with a hard-fought victory. It's classic Didier Deschamps, who has been known to keep the horses reigned in early in competitive tournaments before letting them loose later.
Austria will be gutted not to come away from this match with any points, as they surely deserved something for this strong performance. Their high press looked dangerous early, but began to cause problems as France started to turn the ball over in bunches. But the real story of the night was Mbappe, with France surely now surely sweating on his status for the rest of the competition!
France vs. Austria: Second Half
90+9 min: Chance, France! It's a hectic finish to this match, and Olivier Giroud comes up empty with a chance to put a bow on things! He swings and misses at a bouncing ball right in front of net!
90+7 min: Chance, Austria! The underdogs are pressing hard for a late equalizer but cannot convert, as Alexander Prass comes up empty on a ball into the penalty area.
90+3 min: Kylian Mbappe has now been substituted off, with Olivier Giroud brought into the match. This is a huge concern for France and their likely challenge at this tournament. Meanwhile, Kevin Danso is booked for a foul on Olivier Giroud.
90th min: Kylian Mbappe has come back out onto the pitch holding his nose, and then immediately goes down again in a heap. He's going to get a yellow card for this, and it seems quite silly for him to have done this. Why did he come back out on the pitch?
Nine minutes of stoppage time are added, most of which has probably come from this long stoppage for Mbappe's injury.
86th min: Kylian Mbappe needs treatment after trying to head the ball and smashing his face into the shoulder of a defender in the aftermath. There's a lot of blood, as Mbappe's nose is bleeding solidly. I'm no doctor, but it might be broken.
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA
84th min: Konrad Laimer is booked for a swipe at Kylian Mbappe's face. It's hardly intentional, but players have to be aware of their body positioning. In truth, the yellow card may well be for dissent, as Laimer showed clear frustration.
79th min: OUCH! There's a brutal coming together between Michael Baumgarner and France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, and both require treatment. Baumgarner is threaded through but the weight on the ball is heavy, and it gives Maignan a chance to challenge off his line. The two barrel together at full force, with both going to ground and colliding painfully.
Baumgarner gets booked in the aftermath, which is exceedingly harsh. It's a true 50/50 ball, and Baumgarner may even get there slightly ahead of the goalkeeper who makes a "save." That's never a booking! The refereeing in this match has been pretty terrible, on the whole.
They're both up and ready to continue, thankfully. That was a nasty one!
77th min: The finish to this match is on a knife-edge! Neither side is truly in control, but neither side has let off the gas! Austria are still counter-pressing hard as is Ralf Rangnick's style, and it's making a difference, but France have still had some joy up front. Buckle up!
71st min: Didier Deschamps blinks first on the touchline, making a double change as Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani enter to replace Ousmane Dembele and Adrian Rabiot.
66th min: Chance, France! Les Bleus are beginning to snatch hold of the game again, and Marcus Thuram is turned away by a wonderful save from Patrick Pentz! The Austrian goalkeeper dives out from his goal to turn the tight-angle shot away from danger!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA
62nd min: Austria want a penalty as Marcel Sabitzer is sandwiched by France centre-backs Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba near the goal line, but the Spanish official, Jesus Gil Manzano, waves away the protests and VAR agrees. There's a lot of contact but not enough in that for a foul aside from a very slight shove from Saliba, which isn't of enough vigor to see the whistle blown.
56th min: Ousmane Dembele is booked for a foul while tracking back to challenge Phillipp Mwene. France are beginning to lose their grip on this one, and you wonder if the miss from their superstar could see a drop in confidence...
55th min: Chance, France! KYLIAN MBAPPE HAS MISSED A SITTER, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SLICE IT! What an absolute shocker!
The new Real Madrid star is clean through on goal after getting past Max Wober, but somehow he puts it wide with just the goalkeeper to beat! He had the entire goal to pick out, but has still somehow never scored at the European Championship — now up to 17 total shots in the competition.
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Canada | United Kingdom
52nd min: The assistant referee on one side of the pitch is having an absolute shocker. After giving a goal kick on Mike Maignan's blatantly obvious save, they've inexplicably done it again after the ball clearly hit the head of an Austrian defender marshaling it out of play against Ousmane Dembele. What a nightmare, two clear decisions gone awry!
49th min: Antoine Griezmann takes a hard fall into the advertising boards after a slight shoulder shove from Max Wober, and needs treatment as he is bleeding. He comes off for a moment and has his head bandaged, returning to the pitch with a big wrap on his noggin.
The wrap doesn't last long, though, as it ends up on the pitch a few moments later. We'll see if the referee is making him come off the pitch again to stem any further blood above his right temple.
Kickoff: The final 45 minutes are under way as France can be pleased to be playing in front, but will want to pad the advantage, knowing Mike Maignan hasn't been untested thus far and anything can happen from here.
Since giving up a halftime lead against the Dutch in Euro 2000, after which they went on to win the title, France have not lost a European Championship match when leading at halftime. A good omen!
HALFTIME: France 1-0 Austria
France are ahead at the break, and they won't care how it came, as Max Wober's bullet header own goal is the difference in the match. Les Bleus were the better side, breaking through Austria's high press early and often. While the Ralf Rangnick trademark style did begin to cause a few problems near the half-hour mark, it didn't make enough difference to matter on the scoreboard.
Austria did have one big opportunity, but France goalkeeper Mike Maignan stood tall to deny the opportunity with a spectacular save, allowing Les Bleus to take the lead shortly after. Kylian Mbappe didn't get credit for the goal, but he's been the best player on the pitch so far, while Ousmane Dembele has also done a strong job on the opposite flank.
France vs. Austria: First Half
38th min: GOAL! FRANCE! There's the breakthrough, as Kylian Mbappe forces an own goal! It's crossed from the right by Mbappe, who beats Phillipp Mwene to the end line and chips it back to the top of the six-yard box, and it's headed by Max Wober, who inexplicably buries it in his own net!
What was Wober thinking? If that had been at the other end, it'd have been a quality finish! He just headed it straight into his own net, no misfortune about that!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Canada | United Kingdom | Australia
35th min: Chance, Austria! Michael Gregoritsch wins it in midfield and springs a counter, but Mike Maignan makes a stunning save on Christoph Baumgartner! Gregoritsch gets back into the action by sending a wonderful cross from deep on the left, and Marcel Sabitzer's touch is exquisite to spring Baumgartner on goal! He only needs the one-on-one finish, but Maignan comes off his line perfectly!
Bafflingly, a goal kick is given, which is inexplicable as Maignan clearly made the save, but the Spanish official Jesus Gil Manzano completely messes up the call.
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Canada | Australia
31st min: As much as we've covered France breaking the Austrian press, they've not conceded to this point and it's starting to finally work its magic. The French players are suddenly unable to play through without being hounded and turning it over, and Austria are seeing much more of the ball over the last 10 minutes.
Konrad Laimer sends a cross in from the right towards a teammate streaking on net, but it's too close to goalkeeper Mike Maignan who does well not only to stop the delivery but stretch to keep the ball in play and avoid conceding a corner. Is the tide turning a bit here?
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA
24th min: Sounding like a broken record here, but France again crack through the high Austria line, but this time Theo Hernandez is tackled brilliantly and loses out before he can make anything happen just outside the top of the penalty area.
19th min: France break Austria's high line yet again, but Antoine Griezmann makes a poor decision at the end of it, deciding to take a shot himself cutting in on his left instead of finding a teammate, and it's blocked away by the mass of bodies between him and the goal. The space to shoot wasn't there, and he should have found another option.
Still, this Austrian press is not working at all, as France continue to catch it too high and find space on the counter.
16th min: France are continuing to cook up front but have yet to produce anything notable outside of Mbappe's chance. Max Wober is booked for a truly thumping challenge that sends Ousmane Dembele soaring through the air, but France cannot capitalize on the set-piece opportunity just outside the top corner of the penalty area.
8th min: Chance, France! Les Bleus are being pressed extremely high by Austria in their build from the back. France show them just how dangerous that approach is, as Kylian Mbappe is fed through to get behind the high line, but from a tight angle on the left he fires a shot to the wrong side of the near post!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA
2nd min: Kylian Mbappe is hacked to give France a free-kick from 28 yards out shaded to the left. Antoine Griezmann stands over it and delivers it to a dangerous position in front of the net, but it's met first by an Austrian defender and cleared. An early sign that Mbappe will be in full force today.
Kickoff: They're under way in Dusseldorf! Euro 2024 has been extremely exciting so far, what will this match provide for fans in a game full of talent and superstars?
France vs. Austria: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
15 minutes to kickoff: For many, Kylian Mbappe is quite simply the best player in the world. Speaking to U.S. rights-holder Fox Sports before the competition, Mbappe said this tournament is "a new step in my career," calling it "something new to overcome, something new to prove, and it needs to be taken with lightness and humility, but above all great joy."
Will he bring France fans joy in Euro 2024?
There's no one else in the world like Kylian Mbappé 🇫🇷✨
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2024
His EURO 2024 journey starts now 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BujffI7FuI
30 minutes to kickoff: Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick is very familiar with the biggest star on today's opponent.
"I have known Mbappe since he was 15 or 16 years old," Rangnick said. "At Leipzig I was close to signing him. I met with his parents several times, and in the last meeting his father Wilfried told me he will give me Mbappe but only if I am the coach. That was in February, and 4 months later I was Leipzig's coach, but Mbappe was playing in Monaco."
🏆 #beINEURO2024
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) June 17, 2024
🎙️🇦🇹 Ralf Rangnick, le sélectionneur de l'Autriche, s'est confié à @truilletgui avant le match contre la France ! Y a-t-il un plan spécial Mbappé ?#Interview #beINSPORTS pic.twitter.com/JwRLvQtnaF
45 minutes to kickoff: Austrian fans have arrived in Germany in strong numbers, look at this sea of red marching down the road!
Austrian fans in the streets of Düsseldorf ahead of the game against France. 🇦🇹😍#EURO2024pic.twitter.com/EWhYKkV7A8
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) June 17, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in! Kylian Mbappe will start, with very few surprises in the France XI. It will be interesting to see whether Mbappe plays through the middle of the attack, or if something different, such as Marcus Thuram taking over the No. 9 spot.
For Austria, Ralf Ragnick has gone with Max Wober and Kevin Danso at center-back over a few other options, including Philipp Leinhartof Freiburg. Konrad Laimer moves up into central midfield from his holding role, with Florian Grillitsch slotted in behind.
1 hour 15 mins to kick: Borussia Dortmund star Marcel Sabitzer has said he was viscerally affected by this year's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid. He was so distraught that he did not take part in either of Austria's pre-tournament friendlies.
"We are professional athletes, but we are also human," Sabitzer said. "Feelings cannot be hidden or suppressed. Anyone who saw me after the game knows what it did to me. I am processing everything." He did make sure to indicate, however that "there is no need to worry about me during the tournament." Austrian fans will hope he is recovered and ready to lay it all on the line again, as he's a vital part of the Austrian setup.
Marcel Sabitzer is just the second player to provide 5+ assists in a single Champions League campaign for Borussia Dortmund after Ousmane Dembélé in 2016/17. 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/0uHiJeBm1l
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 2, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Kylian Mbappe is one of the most decorated youngsters in football not just this generation, but ever — yet his history at the European Championship is a glaring hole in the resume. In four games at Euro 2020, Mbappe did not score a goal while assisting just two, seeing France bounced in the Round of 16.
Understanding that, he could be forgiven, maybe, for claiming that Euro is more difficult than the World Cup. Others have taken exception to this take, especially those outside of Europe, such as Brazil star Raphinha, who pointedly reminded Mbappe it was a team from South America that took them out in Qatar 2022.
🎙️ “Mbappe saying Euro is more difficult than the World Cup?”
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) June 17, 2024
🇧🇷 Raphinha: “Unfortunately for him, he lost a World Cup final against a South American team.” pic.twitter.com/QmBrbWayfa
1 hour 45 mins to kick: France have a very attacking squad and will be expected to start a host of capable goal scorers, but don't expect them to run up the score on their opponent. Didier Deschamps has been here before, most notably when he led France to the 2018 World Cup.
The Bleus boss was heavily criticized for keeping a lid on his wealth of attacking talent, especially through the group stage when they won two games 2-1 and 1-0 and played to a scoreless draw in a third. They opened it up a bit in the knockouts, beating Argentina in the Round of 16 by a 4-2 score and doing the same to Croatia in the final, but also beat Uruguay 2-0 and Belgium 1-0.
Deschamps understands the restrictions presented by international football, and likes to keep things simple. It's not always as pretty as their talent suggests, but it does the job extremely effectively.
At the 2022 World Cup, no player completed more key passes than France’s Antoine Griezmann (21).
— The Coaches' Voice (@CoachesVoice) June 17, 2024
The 33-year-old could play an important role in linking play in the final-third for Didier Deschamps’ side at this European Championship. 🇫🇷⭐️#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/4yh5TIm19m
2 hours before kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of France vs. Austria in Euro 2024 Group D. The two-time winners were dumped out by Switzerland in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020. Kylian Mbappe and the rest of a star-studded lineup will be looking to make amends.
𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 🇫🇷
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) June 16, 2024
1 team on the pitch and 68 million French men and women by their side to write history in Blue.
See you tomorrow for the start of the Euro campaign 👊 #BleuCollectif pic.twitter.com/C0XEVLN0K5
France vs. Austria kickoff time
This Euro 2024 match kicks off from the Merkur Spiel-Arena on June 17 at 9:00 p.m. local time in Dusseldorf.
Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Mon, Jun. 17 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Mon, Jun. 17 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Mon, Jun. 17 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Tue, Jun. 18 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Tue, Jun. 18 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
Euro 2024 Group D standings
| Pos. | Team | GP | W-D-L | Goals | Goals against | Points |
| 1. | Netherlands | 1 | 1-0-0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2. | Austria | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | France | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Poland | 1 | 0-0-1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
France vs. Austria lineups, team news, starting 11
Didier Deschamps will be without Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni for their opening game as he recovers from a foot injury.
New Los Blancos star Kylian Mbappe will captain France, with Arsenal defender William Saliba expected to start at centre-back alongside Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano. Antoine Griezmann is likely to continue the midfield playmaker role he has adopted for his country for the past two years.
France starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Maignan (GK) — Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez — Griezmann, Kante, Rabiot — Dembele, Thuram, Mbappe.
Austria are without veteran defender David Alaba for the tournament due to a long-term knee injury but he has travelled to Germany as a "non-playing captain."
Former Premier League striker Marko Arnautovic is the key name in attack, with Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer and Bayern Munich's Konrad Laimer in midfield.
Austria starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Pentz (GK) — Posch, Danso, Wober, Mwene — Grillitsch, Siewald — Laimer, Sabitzer, Baumgartner — Gregoritsch.
France vs. Austria live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Euro 2024 match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Fox Sports Network | Fubo, Sling, FOX Sports app/website, ViX |
| Canada | TVA Sports, TSN 1, TSN 3, TSN 4 | TVA+, TVA app/website |
| UK | ITV1, STV | ITVX, STV Player |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Sony Ten 2, 3 | JioTV, Sony LIV |
USA: France vs. Austria from Dusseldorf's Merkur Spiel-Arena will be televised in the United States on the Fox Sports Network, with Spanish-language streaming via ViX. The game is also available to stream on Fubo, which is currently offering a FREE seven-day trial.
Radio coverage of the match can be followed on SiriusXM FC.
UK: France vs. Austria in Euro 2024 action will be broadcast in the UK on ITV1 and STV. Streaming is available on ITVX and the STV Player.
Canada: Euro 2024 matches can be seen in Canada on TSN's respective TV channel and live streaming services. TVA will also be showing the match.
Australia: Australia's sole broadcaster for Euro 2024 is Optus Sport.
India: Euro 2024 matches are available to stream on JioTV and Sony LIV. Sony Ten 2 and 3 will be showing this match on TV.
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