Mbappé and his minimalist team fall short in securing a group victory
France wrestles with adversity at the rival's goalpost. In their third EURO match, titan Mbappé scored just a point despite being a heavy contender. Mbappé, a superstar and the new acquisition from Real Madrid, was in the French squad despite a broken nose, wearing a mask. He put title hopefuls ahead with a converted spot-kick in the 56th minute. However, the already-eliminated Poles' Robert Lewandowski leveled the scores with another penalty kick in the 79th minute, forcing a drawn match (0:0) and a second-place finish for France.
Mbappé's initial EURO goal didn't secure France the top spot in complex Group D. With 13 goals at World or European championships, Mbappé is equal to Just Fontaine (13). He only trails the legendary Michel Platini in goals scored for France in major tournaments. In the Round of 16, the French team faces the second-place team from Group E. Regrettably, the French team couldn't manage a single goal from open play in the group stage. Their win against Austria resulted from an own goal, and they conceded only once.
Mbappé had some difficulty adapting to playing with a face mask. The offensive powerhouse seemed cautious and maintained distance in one-on-one situations. Just before halftime, his motor revved twice, creating two promising opportunities. Both times, Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski thwarted Mbappé's tournament championship opening goal with impressive reflexes.
Lewandowski shows determination
Both teams delivered a somewhat entertaining first half. The defeated Poles did not shy away and aimed to offer their 20,000 spectators in the stadium something to cheer about before their disheartening tournament ended.
Despite being absent in the opener against the Netherlands due to a thigh issue, and coming off the bench against Austria, Lewandowski, the Polish star, returned for the first time in the starting lineup. In the 34th minute, the bandaged Lewandowski almost put Poland ahead, but his header narrowly missed the French goalpost. Despite the frustrating EURO, the 35-year-old striker from Barcelona had stated his intention to continue playing for his nation prior to the game.
Lewandowski took a backseat in the second half, as Mbappé dominated the spotlight. In the 56th minute, Mbappé missed another opportunity. Seven minutes later, he scored a second goal for the title contenders with a penalty kick after Ousmane Dembélé was fouled.
France appeared to be on the right track, but Lewandowski managed one final comeback. Initially, he failed against France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan, but since the goalkeeper had left the line too early, Lewandowski received a second opportunity and took full advantage with a surprising run to the goal for the equalizer. Both times, he targeted the left corner.
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The polish minimalists, led by Lewandowski, showcased resilience in the face of France's dominance, keeping hopes alive for an unexpected group victory. Regardless of Mbapp's minimalist team's shortcomings, Lewandowski's tournament-defining equalizer kept Poland from conceding a group victory to their opponents.
Mbappé's minimalist approach after the broken nose didn't deter him from scoring in the crucial penalty kick, while Lewandowski's determination against the formidable French defense proved that the opposition goal can be a problem zone for even the best players.
