France v Poland LIVE: Euro 2024 result as Mbappe and Les Bleus left frustrated after Lewandowski penalty
France 1-1 Poland: Kylian Mbappe struck a penalty on his return, while wearing a mask, yet Robert Lewandowski's retaken spot kick forced Les Bleus to settle for second in the group
A Kylian Mbappe penalty was cancelled out by Robert Lewandowski’s spot kick as already-eliminated Poland held France to a 1-1 draw in Dortmund on Tuesday, meaning the French finish second in Group D.
Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with his first European Championship goal and the first scored by a French player at Euro 2024 when he calmly slotted home a penalty given for Jakub Kiwior’s clumsy challenge on Ousmane Dembele.
But Dayot Upamecano brought down Polish substitute Karol Swiderksi, which allowed Lewandowski to level from the spot in the 79th minute after his first effort was saved by Mike Maignan, who was adjudged to have advanced off his line too early.
The draw means France finish second in Group D behind Austria and will face whoever comes second in Group E, where Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine are all on three points.
Relive all the action and follow reaction from France v Poland and Netherlands v Austria below:
France suffer their worst fear after Kylian Mbappe misses leave Euro 2024 problem
When the mask fell, there was no hero in sight. Instead, France’s worst fear presented himself – a man struggling with the expectation of a nation on his shoulders.
With top spot in Group D up for grabs in the scorching Ruhr Valley heat, Kylian Mbappe, who completed the Ninja Turtle look by sporting a mask to protect his broken nose, stayed calm as he slotted home from the penalty spot in the second half, putting France seemingly on course for a comfortable victory over a Poland side with nothing to play for.
France suffer their worst fear after Kylian Mbappe misses leave Euro 2024 problem
France 1-1 Poland: Les Bleus were left frustrated and now find themselves with a tougher path to the final at Euro 2024 after finishing behind Austria in Group D
France v Poland player ratings as Kylian Mbappe’s return fails to spark Les Bleus into life
A long-awaited first goal at the Euros for Kylian Mbappe, but the France captain did seem to be struggling at times with his mask. Here’s what m’colleague Michael Jones made of Mbappe and the rest of those in action in Dortmund:
France v Poland player ratings as Mbappe’s return fails to spark Les Bleus into life
France 1-1 Poland: Didier Deschamps’ side played out a sketchy draw in Dortmund and failed to win Group D
France finish second in Group D
And here’s how Group D looks, with Austria advancing as suprise group winners after an action-packed encounter with the Netherlands - who lurk as potential opponents for England in the last-16.
Euro 2024 Group D final standings
1. Austria, 6 points
2. France, 5 points
3. Netherlands, 4 points
4. Poland, 1 point
FT: France 1-1 Poland
Poland salvage a degree of pride at the end of a difficult tournament, battling back to pinch a point against a disappointed France. It looked like Kylian Mbappe had set his side on course to top the group when he converted from 12 yards just before the hour-mark, but Robert Lewandowski replied in kind after a double VAR intervention.
France 1-1 Poland, 90 + 5 minutes
Down goes Kylian Mbappe inside the Poland box...but referee Marco Guida waves away protests! It was clumsy from Pawel Dawidowicz, leaping and making little contact with the ball.
But that’s that! VAR clears the incident and soon after Guida’s whistle is brought to his lips, sending us to a close.
France 1-1 Poland, 90 + 3 minutes
A curling Antoine Griezmann delivery from the left collides with one of Dayot Upamecano’s pectoral muscles and flies away. With Austria clinging on to their lead against the Netherlands, it looks like second spot for France.
France 1-1 Poland, 90 + 2 minutes
Poland, of course, are playing for little here other than avoiding the ignominy of leaving without a point to show for their efforts. Lukasz Skorupski watches a deflected Kylian Mbappe shot loop into his bread basket.
France 1-1 Poland, 90 minutes
Good work from Karol Swiderski, caught in a thicket of blue shirts but managing to escape the forest, tumbling over a limb as he exits to draw a foul.
Five additional minutes to be played.
France 1-1 Poland, 88 minutes
Kylian Mbappe fiddles with his mask, grimacing after taking a hand to the nose from Robert Lewandowski. No malice, obviously, but sore, no doubt.
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