France wait for Mbappe to return and the goals to flow at Euro 2024
![France wait for Mbappe to return and the goals to flow at Euro 2024 France wait for Mbappe to return and the goals to flow at Euro 2024](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/127083/conversions/AFP__20240624__34YM2NM__v1__HighRes__FranceTrainingSessionAndPressConferenceGroupDUe-og_image.webp)
France's forward Kylian Mbappe, wearing a protective mask, looks on as he takes part in a MD-1 training session at the Home Deluxe Arena Stadium in Paderborn, western Germany, on June 24, 2024, on the eve of their UEFA Euro 2024 Group D football match against Poland. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France appear almost certain to reach the last 16 at Euro 2024 but
they are hoping to have Kylian Mbappe back, and rediscover their goal-scoring
touch, when they face Poland in their final group game on Tuesday.
One of the leading favourites coming into the tournament, France
have four points from two matches in Group D but have only scored one goal, and
that was courtesy of Austrian defender Maxmimilian Woeber putting through his
own net.
That gave France a 1-0 win against Austria in their opening match
in Duesseldorf, before they drew 0-0 with the Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday
in the absence of Mbappe.
The new Real Madrid signing played no part against the Dutch as he
recovers from the broken nose he suffered in a collision late on against
Austria.
He will need to wear a protective mask over his nose when he
returns to action but he trained on Sunday at the French team's base in
Paderborn and his teammates are optimistic of having their captain back against
the Poles.
"I think everyone knows he is really eager to play in the
next match. That won't surprise anyone," said midfielder Aurelien
Tchouameni.
"As for the mask, I think he is starting to get used to it.
Of course he would rather not wear it but I think if you ask the doctor he
would say there is no choice.
"But that won't change anything for him. We know that when he
is on the field he will bring a lot to the team."
It was Mbappe whose cross was headed in by Woeber for France's
only goal so far at the Euros and he is by a long way the biggest attacking
threat available to coach Didier Deschamps.
Marcus Thuram led the line against the Dutch, but he has scored
only twice in 22 appearances for his country.
Antoine Griezmann has only netted twice in his last 30 caps, while
Ousmane Dembele's only goal for France in the last three years came against
Gibraltar.
Kingsley Coman is still building up his fitness after missing the
end of the season with Bayern Munich due to injury, and Randal Kolo Muani is
coming off a difficult campaign in Mbappe's shadow at Paris Saint-Germain.
"It is frustrating but nothing to be alarmed about,"
Griezmann said after the Netherlands game in reference to his own missed
chances.
"The defence and midfield are doing a remarkable job, we are
leaving very little to the opposition, but we must improve in attack and be
more deadly."
- Almost through -
That defensive solidity is important and could take them a long
way, even if the goals do not flow at the other end.
The centre-back pairing of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba have
impressed in front of goalkeeper Mike Maignan, while N'Golo Kante has been
outstanding in midfield on his return to the international stage after two
years out of the picture.
"It is important to underline how solid we have been
defensively because I think that is vital when you are trying to win
titles," insisted Tchouameni.
"Obviously we will need to score goals if we are to win
matches. That will make things a little easier, but we are not having doubts
about that.
"The most important thing is that we are creating chances, so
we just need to start putting some of them away."
France just need a draw to be certain of reaching the last 16
against a Poland team who have already been eliminated after two defeats in
their first two outings.
Even a defeat will not stop them going through, as long as Austria
do not beat the Dutch.
However, the 2022 World Cup runners-up need to better the
Netherlands' result against Austria -- or at least win by a wider margin -- in
order to take top spot.
Wherever they finish in the group may not change too much in terms
of their potential last-16 opponents, but it could have an impact further down
the line in terms of possible ties in the quarter-finals and beyond.
Poland's
veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, now 35, will hope to start after returning
from injury as a substitute against Austria.
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