France Begins Euro 2024 Campaign with Hard-Fought Win

France Edges Austria in Thrilling Euro 2024 Opener

France defeats Austria in Euro 2024 opener, with Kylian Mbappe's magic moment making up for a rough night that included a broken nose.

France's Euro 2024 campaign got off to a thrilling start in Dusseldorf, thanks to Kylian Mbappe's moment of brilliance and a dash of good fortune. Despite a resolute Austrian side, Mbappe's magic secured a victorious start for Les Bleus.

However, the night took a worrying turn for France as Mbappe was at the center of a late injury scare. In the 90th minute, the Real Madrid star was substituted after a brutal aerial collision with Austrian defender Kevin Danso left him drenched in blood from a nasty nose injury. To make matters worse, Mbappe was also shown a yellow card for re-entering the pitch, collapsing to the ground, and then leaving.

Despite a rough night with his finishing, Mbappe made a crucial contribution to secure three vital points against Ralf Rangnick's well-drilled Austrian team. The 25-year-old's lightning-fast footwork and quickness proved too much for the Austrian defense, as he tormented them throughout the match.

Austria's fortunes took a turn for the worse when Max Wober's header was cancelled out by Phillipp Mwene's own goal, just seven minutes before half-time. Austria had their best chance moments earlier, but Mike Maignan's incredible close-range save denied Christoph Baumgartner. The Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano's baffling decision to award a goal kick instead of a corner only added to Austria's frustration.

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Mbappe had earlier tested Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz with a first-half effort, and his persistence paid off in the end. 

N'Golo Kante was deservedly awarded man of the match for his outstanding performance, as France secured a hard-fought victory in their Euro 2024 opener.