Tuesday evening, against Poland, the Blues conceded their first goal of the competition. From the penalty spot, Robert Lewandowski deceived Mike Maignan on his second attempt, as in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup, against Hugo Lloris, during the last meeting between France and Poland.
From an explosion of joy to disappointment, even annoyance. Mike Maignan thought he had stopped Robert Lewandowski’s penalty in the 77th minute, thus preserving the chances of success, and first place in the group, for his team, who led 1-0.
Unfortunately for the AC Milan goalkeeper, the absence of one of his feet on the goal line at the time of the Polish captain’s shot forced Marco Guida, referee of the match, to have the penalty withdrawn. For this second attempt, Lewandowski did not change sides and finally equalized (1-1).
Read also :
VIDEO. Euro 2024: why the referee decided to withdraw the penalty stopped by Mike Maignan against Poland
A decision which left bitter Mike Maignan, who showed his frustration by sharing an ironic Instagram story. He reprinted one of his old posts on X, where he criticized the new rules in the exercise. “LThe goalkeepers must have their backs to them when the shot is taken.” et “In case of stoppage, indirect free kick”. To complete his message, he added: “While the attacker begins his 87e feints in his run-up…”
A mishap that happened in 2022, in Qatar, to Hugo Lloris. While France was quietly heading towards a quarter-final of the World Cup (3-0). Like Tuesday evening, at the Euro, with a foul on Swiderski, it was already Dayot Upamecano who had conceded the penalty, with one hand, at the end of 2022 at the end of added time.
“We know the rules but it’s complicated for the goalkeepers”
Robert Lewandowski, to save the honor of his family, rushed but Hugo Lloris intervened. Problem, as for Mike Maignan, the captain of the Blues at the time no longer had his foot in contact with the line at the time of the opponent’s shot. Penalty to be withdrawn, and another jerky race from “Lewy” who wrong-footed a disillusioned Lloris.
“We know the rules but it’s complicated for the goalkeepers. We are asked to stay on the line. But we have to give the impetus, and at that moment, the attacker stops his run. There’s more in addition to freedoms for attackers and goalkeepers, it is more and more difficult”, complained the ex-captain of the Blues after the meeting.
Troubling resemblance between the two meetings, will the Blues go as far in this Euro 2024 as during the last World Cup, the future will tell with a round of 16 to be played on Monday July 1st.
