Mbappé and his fellow minimalists strive towards scoring the goal
Group D at the EM proved to be a challenging one for France, as they failed to secure a group win despite Mbappé’s contributions. In the third game, France struggled against Poland, drawing 1-1 (0-0) after Mbappé scored a penalty kick in the 56th minute, only for Robert Lewandowski to equalize for Poland with his own penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Mbappé, who had recently returned to the starting lineup after nursing a nasal bone fracture, scored his first goal of the tournament but couldn't help France secure first place. France had to settle for second place, and will now face the second-place team in Group E in the Round of 16.
Strangely enough, France failed to score a single goal from open play throughout the group stage. Their win against Austria was due to an own goal, and they were scoreless against the Netherlands. They managed 19 shots on target against Poland, 17 against the Netherlands, and 15 against Austria, and had only conceded one goal so far.
Mbappé found it difficult to play with a mask, and seemed subdued in one-on-one situations. Just before halftime, he created two good opportunities, but Poland’s goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski made good saves to deny him a goal. The first half was moderately entertaining, with both teams putting up a good show, especially Poland, who wanted to end the disappointing tournament on a high note.
Robert Lewandowski made his presence felt in this game after missing the opening match due to thigh problems. He came close to putting Poland in the lead in the 34th minute, but his header just missed the French goalpost. Lewandowski, despite his underwhelming EM performance, made it clear before the game that he planned to continue playing for the national team.
Mbappé took center stage in the second half, and the mask no longer seemed to hinder him. Four minutes after the break, he missed an opportunity, but seven minutes later, he put France in the lead with a penalty kick after Ousmane Dembele was fouled. However, Lewandowski equalized again, making use of another unusual run. Two times, he chose the left corner.
Despite the disquieting realization that they had not scored a single goal from open play throughout the group stage, France seemed optimistic about their performance and their chances in the Round of 16.
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Despite Mbappé and the minimalist group's efforts to secure a group victory, France ended up in second place in Group D. Regardless, Mbappé, being their favorite player, continued to shine, scoring a crucial penalty kick against Poland.
