As Didier Deschamps knew, the midfielder’s move to the Saudi Pro League has not diminished his powers N’Golo Kanté took the stage for a second time in four days and, having offered another blast from the past, sounded a quietly confident note about France’s future. Perhaps anyone lending a curious ear from rival camps may even have termed it ominous. “I think we had a good feeling,” he said, echoing those who felt their goalless draw against the Netherlands was hardly a ­borefest. “I thought the performance was good. We’re disappointed not to have won but I think it’s looking good for what is to come.” Continue reading...

Cristiano Ronaldo and N’Golo Kanté are among the players thriving in Germany after a season in gentler waters It’s the 85th minute of Austria’s opening group game against France, and with Austria striving for a late equaliser, Patrick Wimmer runs through on goal. Wimmer is 23 years old, rapid, and plays his football for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga under the count of counter-pressing, Ralph Hasenhüttl. But as Wimmer puts on the burners, he has reckoned without a 33-year-old midfielder from – according to Opta – the world’s 26th best league. Like an action hero chasing down a runaway train, N’Golo Kanté steams in and eats up the ground between Wimmer and himself. He claims the ball with his whirring legs, bringing the France bench to its feet in applause. Kanté was the player of the match on Monday night, having lasted the full 90 minutes. He hit a top speed of 21.4mph – second only to Kylian Mbappé – and covered 11.8km, more than any France player. “That’s why we brought him,” the France coach, Didier Deschamps, said afterwards. “He was brilliant.” Continue reading...

The 0-0 draw against the Netherlands showed that life without Mbappé is harder than Deschamps makes out By Eric Devin for Get French Football News In the absence of Kylian Mbappé, Didier Deschamps opted for a typically conservative approach in the 0-0 draw against the Netherlands. While France’s defence thrived, their (very few) attacking elements looked lost and inefficacious. Continue reading...

Three games open at 2pm BST with Georgia v Czech RepPlayer interactive | And you can drop Xaymaca a mail It seemed apt that after his Austria side ignited their hopes of reaching the last 16, Ralf Rangnick – famed for imposing a high-pressing style across the Red Bull group – plumped for an energy drink, pouring himself a glass in his post-match press conference. A well-earned victory provides hope of qualifying from Group D when they meet the Netherlands here on Tuesday. In the other big game of the day, Austria beat Poland 3-1. Continue reading...

Forward broke his nose in Group D win over AustriaMbappé wore mask on return to full training on Thursday Didier Deschamps has suggested Kylian Mbappé could feature against the Netherlands on Friday, in a surprise turn of events after the France captain suffered a broken nose against Austria on Monday. Mbappé has not required surgery and while doubts remain over his involvement in the rest of the group stage, Deschamps insists “everything is going in the right direction”. The France manager confirmed a custom-made mask will be fitted so that Mbappé can return but it is unclear if he will risk his captain. Mbappe was limited to non-contact exercises at training on Wednesday but trained again on Thursday before France’s meeting with the Netherlands in Leipzig. The Real Madrid forward wore a mask in his country’s tricolour colours and emblazoned with his initials. Continue reading...

Deschamps optimistic forward will feature in tournamentMbappé broke his nose in France’s first match Kylian Mbappé returned to France training on Wednesday – for the first time since breaking his nose in their Euro 2024 opener – but Didier Deschamps confirmed his captain will require surgery at some point, most likely after the tournament. France are sourcing a custom-made mask for Mbappé, who trained alone at their base in Paderborn before joining in a finishing drill with the rest of his teammates. Mbappé wore wound-closure strips across his nose and was limited to non-contact exercises. Continue reading...

France were far from perfect against Austria and will now miss Kylian Mbappé but, as usual, they got the job gone By Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News France’s 1-0 win against Austria maintained their record of not losing the opening game of a major tournament under Didier Deschamps. The result was as predictable as the means by which it was obtained: solidity, efficiency and individual quality. Voilà, the hallmarks of a victory à-la-Deschamps. Continue reading...

Kylian Mbappé’s future in Euro 2024 has been put into doubt after he suffered a facial injury during France's opening game against Austria. An aerial head-on-shoulder collision with Austria’s Kevin Danso left Mbappé with his nose bloodied and swollen late in the game. After the match, the France captain's teammates wished him a rapid recovery and admitted 'If we lose him that will make a huge difference for the team' Kylian Mbappé suffers broken nose and is doubt for game against Netherlands Continue reading...

France manager Didier Deschamps said star forward Kylian Mbappé was 'not doing well' after his nose was 'badly hit' during his side's 1-0 win over Austria in Group D at Euro 2024 in Düsseldorf. Mbappé went off covered in blood and holding his nose after an aerial collision with Austria defender Kevin Danso Kylian Mbappé suffers broken nose and is doubt for game against Netherlands Continue reading...

Forward injured late in Euro 2024 victory against Austria‘He’s not doing well,’ admits manager Didier Deschamps Didier Deschamps was unable to confirm whether or not Kylian Mbappé will be able to return to the France team for their next match against the Netherlands on Friday after the forward suffered a badly broken nose in Düsseldorf. “He’s not doing well. He’s with the medical staff. I cannot tell you anything else,” Deschamps said after the 1-0 win against Austria. “His nose got badly hit. We need to check that out. It is just really unfortunate right now.” Continue reading...

On a humid, boisterous night in Düsseldorf France eased their way into this tournament with a controlled 1-0 defeat of a game but ultimately limited Austria. A first-half own goal settled the game. Didier Deschamps’ team played well within its limits. The Qatar 2022 finalists slept a little in the first half, ran through some patterns, opened up the right side of Austria’s defence whenever Kylian Mbappé stretched his legs. Austria were always kept at arm’s length. Deschamps will be pleased with the control in midfield offered by Adrien Rabiot and N’Golo Kanté. Continue reading...

Euro 2024 news from the 8pm BST kick-off in DüsseldorfLatest Euro 2024 Daily | Player interactive | Email Michael Just 15 minutes to go between Belgium and Slovakia, and it is the latter who are leading 1-0! Join Rob Smyth here for that game’s closing stages. What a game this is, perhaps the most exciting on paper of the tournament so far. France, who have played in all but one major tournament final since 2016, against a resurgent and intriguing Austria side, led by their Ralf Rangnick, their maverick manager who turned down Bayern Munich’s advances to stay in charge of Das Team for this tournament. Continue reading...

On the eve of France's first game at the Euro 2024 tournament, Kylian Mbappé called on French people to vote and warned against 'extremes knocking on the door of power' at a time when the far right seeks to make gains in upcoming parliamentary elections. Mbappé said he wanted to convince young people that their votes could make a difference. He didn't name any politicians or parties but the France captain said he still 'wants to be proud of wearing this jersey' after the election day. France captain Kylian Mbappé urges vote against rising ‘extremes’ in election Continue reading...

‘I want to be proud to represent France,’ says Les Bleus star France kick off Euro 2024 campaign against Austria on Monday Kylian Mbappé has found himself at the centre of his country’s political turmoil on the eve of France’s opening game at Euro 2024, describing the tumultuous events back home as a pivotal moment for French history. Usual questions about the challenge Austria might pose in the Group D clash in Duesseldorf were relegated at the pre-match media conference with Mbappé speaking openly about his fears, saying the situation in France “was dire”. Continue reading...