We call it a big blunder, and it really wasn’t planned: after this disappointing draw (1-1) against a Polish team that was already eliminated, completed by a victory for the Austrians over the Netherlands (3-2), the Blues finished second in their group and are relegated to the wrong half of the table for the rest of this Euro. They will play their round of 16 on Monday in Leipzig against the second in Group E, which will be known this Wednesday evening.
It took a penalty after more than 240 minutes of play in this Euro for the French to finally score a goal themselves in this Euro, and it is the only sticky debate less which will animate future press conferences in Paderborn this week. We played the 55e minute of this France-Poland disputed in humid and stifling heat when the undulating and annoying Ousmane Dembélé overflowed on the right but instead of poorly centering in stride, as was the case 9 times out of 10 until then, the The PSG winger was previously dried in the area by Kiwior, and Kylian Mbappé, the masked avenger returning eight days after his broken nose, transformed the penalty kick logically awarded by the PSG into a perfect counterattack. Italian referee M. Guido (1-0).
But as nothing will be simple for the Blues in this Euro, a quarter of an hour later, a small unnecessary foul from Upamecano at 8 meters resulted in the same sanction and Robert Lewandowski, the twilight star of FC Barcelona, failed a first time in front of Maignan before obtaining a second attempt, the French goalkeeper not having kept one foot on his line at the time of the strike. “Lewa” did not tremble twice and Poland returned to one everywhere (1-1, 79e). At that time, it was Austria who definitely took the lead in the group by leading against the Netherlands (3-2), embarrassing Deschamps’ players for the rest of the competition.
Mbappé scored but seemed to lack pace and vision
Feverish, the French? Oh yes, at the end of a match that they should have won well before thanks to the multiple chances they had created. But the excellent Skorupski, who replaced Czszesny, was always on course to block the shots from Mbappé, Barcola and Dembélé, almost every time at the near post. And when it wasn’t him, his defenders, as hard-working as they were supportive, or even his post saved the day. Imperial during the first two outings, Kanté and Rabiot suddenly became ordinary again. Barcola often tried in vain, and his captain seemed to lack rhythm, and sometimes vision behind his black mask.
The minutes passed in the furnace of Dortmund and the 12,000 French supporters mulled over the 16 shots, 12 chances, 7 shots on target and 9 corners, all for an (un)fortunate penalty scored, the 48e goal from Mbappé in the French team, therefore. The coach had launched his last forces into the battle, bringing in the old grunts Giroud and Griezmann, replacements of the day, and the “finishers” Camavinga, Fofana and Kolo Muani to snatch the decision. But nothing happened.
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We even entered additional time, that of questions around the continuation of the course with Spain, Germany or even Portugal in half of the table of these Blues (from the quarter-finals) so little attack since their arrival in Germany. The quarters are far away. We will still have to manage to survive on Monday in Leipzig (9 p.m.) against the second of a group E which is currently equal (Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, three points each). France is moving forward without certainty, almost on a wire now, in a Euro where comfort is a rare luxury – in the organization as well as on the pitch.
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