France Secures 1-0 Win Against Austria But Worries Surround Kylian Mbappé

France edged out a 1-0 victory against Austria. It wasn’t a spectacle, but it got the job done. Didier Deschamp’s side needed to win the game,  especially with the Netherlands taking care of business against Poland (2-1). One goal was all it took, yet the match still made headlines.

France Has The Best Players – And Wins

When the difference in quality is too significant, even a master tactician like Ralf Rangnick can struggle to make a difference. Austria aimed to lock down the game with an intense and athletic approach, embodying the RB philosophy Rangnick honed during his time at Leipzig. However, an unfortunate own goal from Maximilian Wöber decided the game, marking the only goal in a tightly contested encounter.

Austria faced the daunting task of dealing with a frontline featuring Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. This attack is as fast as they come, but Deschamps’ team stumbled upon Austria’s defense, which was organized into a formidable brick wall.

The game was no different than expected – France did not win impressively, but it was the biggest test in terms of difficult encounters. Les Bleus found it difficult to break through due to the lack of midfield options. Adrien Rabiot played alongside N’Golo Kanté, the big talking point of the night. 

The Surprise Of The Night – N’Golo Kanté

N’Golo Kanté disappeared from the radar after accepting an offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad. When many laughed at the Frenchman for being ‘finished’, the ex-Chelsea star proved he still had plenty to offer. While he might not have the legs he once did, his dynamic style, characterized by his omnipresence on the field, remained unchanged. 

Europe was flabbergasted and caught by surprise, and Kanté was awarded the Man of the Match Award. Not many players outside Europe have managed such an accolade, making it a significant achievement.

France’s tactics did not impress. In many ways, they mirrored England’s performance against Serbia: one goal and then, nothing. Both games ended with the same scoreline, although France’s performance was not as dire.

It should be noted that Austria is known for such defensive schemes. Rangnick has repeatedly focused on pressing and closing passing channels, which is exactly why France struggled to break down their defensive block.

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A Main Character in Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé was the main source of threat, which comes as no surprise. Paired with Théo Hernández, they form one of the best fullback-winger partnerships in football. 

Most of France’s chances came from Mbappé’s ability to beat his man. Didier Deschamps had warned before the tournament that the team would revolve around Mbappé, and yesterday’s game gave us a clear glimpse of that plan.

However, the plan might need adjustments. Mbappé suffered a knock resulting in a fractured nose. He’s expected to continue playing but with a protective mask. 

The Frenchman humorously asked his followers on Twitter which mask he should choose. Having your greatest superstar not at 100% and forced to play with a mask is far from ideal, but it’s a challenge they’ll have to navigate.

The headlines are likely to echo the same sentiment: France will advance regardless of obstacles. Although they may lack tactical finesse (Deschamps is no Nagelsmann), their individual quality sets them apart from other teams, even against the likes of England. France wasn’t particularly impressive in the 2022 Qatar World Cup either, yet they were just a hair’s breadth away from defending their title. One shot, one moment is all it takes. If it isn’t broken, why fix it?

Truth be told, not much has changed. There’s more focus on Mbappé, but the core of the team remains intact. Nobody expected drastic changes – why would they? The World Cup is notoriously more difficult, and if not for one crucial save, France would have defended their title.

Some Spotlight On Austria’s Quality

While the headlines will focus on France – and Kylian Mbappé in particular, following his transfer to Real Madrid – many thanks should be given to Austria. Yes, they did not win, but they faced fourteen French shots, none of which landed in the net; it was Wöber’s unfortunate own goal that gifted France the lead.

Many could argue that Austria is not the favourite against the Netherlands, but their performance against France showed plenty of promise. This is not a pure defensive team – Austria was dynamic, locking down before launching counter-attacks. 

The only concern for Austrian fans is identifying a player who will take on creative duties. Every team needs a leader in its attack, and Austria’s creative leader remains unclear.

Sure, the team is solid defensively, but their attack against France was limited to pressing opportunities. While this might be sufficient against the Netherlands, they will need to develop a more creative approach to qualify for the knock-outs. Some fans viewed Austria as a dark horse, but these teams typically have a clear striker or playmaker.

To be fair, nobody should be judged on one performance against a title favourite. Few teams can display attacking football against France without risking heavy counter-attacks. 

Wöber often struggled against Mbappé, but for the most part, Austria looked like a formidable defensive unit. They stopped a team featuring the likes of Mbappé, Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, which is no small feat.