The French, led by their key players, remained cautious but never faltered in their Euro 2024 opener. In a hard-fought win against a spirited Austria 1-0 at the Düsseldorf Arena, the star of the match, Kylian Mbappe, shone the brightest. However, his stellar performance was cut short as he was substituted late in the second half due to an injury from a face-bumping incident.

With Kante, Griezmann, and Dembele in midfield, Deschamps’s men found it hard to get past a compact Austrian defensive line. The decisive moment came in the 38th minute when Mbappe incited an own goal by Skipper Maximilian Wober.

In the second half of the game, France had their fair share of possession but could not take advantage of the opportunity. Mbappe looked very upset and was substituted towards the end of the match, with Olivier Giroud taking his place. Although brave in losing, Austria never came close to an equalizer, but the performance signalled that Group D would not be a walkover for the favourites.

This win for France, which now ties them for points with the Netherlands at the top of the group, has significant implications for the tournament. The Belgians’ shock loss to Slovakia and the Romanians’ fierce victory over the Ukrainians highlight the unpredictability of the Euros this year.