In a Group D encounter at Euro 2024, France and Poland played out a 1-1 draw at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on Tuesday. Kylian Mbappé marked his return to action with a penalty goal, but Robert Lewandowski’s spot kick ensured the points were shared.

Mbappé Strikes from the Spot

Mbappé, who had missed France’s previous match against the Netherlands due to a broken nose, made a comeback wearing a protective mask. He broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, converting a penalty awarded for Jakub Kiwior’s foul on Ousmane Dembélé. The goal was Mbappé’s first at a European Championship and the first scored by a French player at Euro 2024.

Lewandowski Levels the Score

Poland, already eliminated from the tournament, showed resilience and managed to equalize in the 79th minute. Substitute Karol Swiderski was brought down in the box by Dayot Upamecano, leading to a penalty. Lewandowski’s initial attempt was saved by Mike Maignan, but the Polish striker made no mistake with his second try, finding the bottom corner.

France Finish Second in Group D

The draw meant France finished second in Group D behind Austria, who topped the group with two wins and a draw. Les Bleus will now face the runners-up of Group E in the round of 16, with Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine all in contention for that spot.

Disappointing Performance from France

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, France failed to score from open play in their three group matches. Mbappé’s penalty was their only goal in the tournament so far. The team will need to improve their performance if they want to progress further in the competition.

Conclusion

The France-Poland match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Mbappé and Lewandowski scoring from the spot. France’s underwhelming performance has raised questions about their ability to compete at the highest level. They will need to regroup and come up with a better strategy if they want to make a deep run in Euro 2024.