By C. J. De Mel, Jadetimes News
Mbappé’s Absence
Kylian Mbappé remained on the bench as France played out a goalless draw against the Netherlands on Friday at Euro 2024. The star striker, who broke his nose in France’s opening game, was an unused substitute despite being declared fit by manager Didier Deschamps. Mbappé watched from the sidelines as his teammates struggled to find the back of the net against the Oranje.
Controversial Offside Decision
The match was almost decided in the Netherlands favor when Xavi Simons appeared to score the winning goal in the second half. However, the goal was controversially disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) due to an offside ruling. While Simons himself was onside, teammate Denzel Dumfries was deemed to have interfered with France goalkeeper Mike Maignan from an offside position.
France’s Missed Opportunities
Without Mbappé, France lacked finishing prowess, squandering several opportunities to secure a win. Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann were particularly wasteful in front of goal. Despite the draw, France is still likely to advance to the knockout stages and will have a chance to secure the top spot in Group D when they face Poland on Tuesday. Mbappé, who has been training with a French inspired tricolore mask, is expected to return for that crucial match, though UEFA regulations prevent him from wearing the multicolored mask during official games.
Ukraine’s Comeback Victory in Group E
Emotional Win for Ukraine
Ukraine delivered a stirring performance in their 21 comeback win against Slovakia in Group E, marking their first major tournament since the onset of war in 2022. Goals from Mykola Shaparenko and Roman Yaremchuk overturned an early deficit after Ivan Schranz had given Slovakia the lead in the 17th minute. Shaparenko’s composed finish in the 54th minute and Yaremchuk’s late winner revived Ukraine’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
Manager’s Praise
Ukraine’s manager Serhiy Rebrov expressed pride in his team's resilience and the positive impact their victory had on their compatriots. “It’s very good emotions for our people of Ukraine who are really missing these emotions,” Rebrov said. The win places Ukraine second in Group E, with their final group match against Belgium on Wednesday.
Poland Exits Euro 2024 After Austria Defeat
Poland’s Early Exit
Poland was eliminated from Euro 2024 following a 31 loss to Austria in Group D earlier on Friday. Gernot Trauner opened the scoring for Austria with a header in the ninth minute, but Poland equalized through Krzysztof Piątek before halftime. Austria regained the lead with a clinical finish from Christoph Baumgartner, and captain Marko Arnautović sealed the victory with a penalty.
Implications of France’s Draw
The draw between France and the Netherlands later that evening confirmed Poland's exit from the tournament, making them the first team to be knocked out.