France beats Austria with an own goal as Mbappe leaves injured

France began their European Championship campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Austria, despite a concerning injury to their star player, Kylian Mbappe, who left the field with a bloodied, busted nose.

From the outset, Les Bleus set the pace of the game, dominating possession and creating early chances. Mbappe’s low drive towards the near post was tipped out for a corner, highlighting his constant threat. Austria, managed by Ralf Rangnick, struggled to muster any significant attacking opportunities, only posing a threat just before France took the lead.

The breakthrough came two minutes before halftime when an unfortunate flick by Maximilian Wober sent Mbappe’s cross into his own net, giving France a deserved lead. Mbappe continued to be the focal point of France’s attack, but surprisingly missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead when he curled a one-on-one chance wide after the break.

⚡️#EURO2024 | #AUTFRA pic.twitter.com/KqjaodC0MV

More on this topic:

Kylian Mbappe hit with criticism over France absence

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 17, 2024

The match took a worrying turn for France when Mbappe was withdrawn late on with a facial injury, a blow to the team’s attacking prowess. Despite this, Austria could not capitalize on his absence, remaining solid defensively but offering little threat going forward.

The result gives France a positive start in Group C, while Austria will need to improve their offensive output in the upcoming matches to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.