Austria 0-1 France: summary, score, goals, highlights, Euro 2024

France secure three Group D points

It may have not been a vintage performance from the red hot favourites, but as was the case with England last night against Serbia, France, one felt were always in control in Düsseldorf and were able to keep Austria at arms length.

The only goal of the night came just when it appeared were getting into the contest and creating danger, a Mbappe cross ricocheted off the head of Austrian defender Wöber and ended up in the back of the Austrian net.

France had a couple of further chances to extend their lead but solid keeping from Pentz and a great chance spurned by Mbappe kept the contest alive.

In the end of the match, Austria failed to create a single effort on-off target reveals so much about the pattern of the game where the French defence and keeper Maigan were rarely seriously threatened.

France with three points on the board

France get their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start.

The whistle sounds and its all over in Düsseldorf.

Final minute of the game and Austria win a corner.

France hold firm.

Austria still knocking on the door but the ref could have added 29 minutes but they just lack that element of penatration. 

Danso carded as he pulls Giroud back.

We're going to have a further nine minutes of action and this time Wimmer clashes his head with that of Camavinga.

More changes for France as Griezmann and Mbappe are replaced by Fofana and Giroud.

Mbappe comes back on and immediately goes to ground and is carded for coming back to the pitch without the referee's permission.

That doesn't look good and could even be a broken nose upon quick reflection.... we will need to wait for the medical update from the FFF.

Mbappe still getting attention and may need to be subbed.

Mbappe is injured after he collides with Mwene. 

The French striker seems to have a bloody nose as the game is halted. 

Laimer is carded as he leaves a flailing hand which hits Mbappe on the face ... The French striker makes the most of it but the resulting free is poor.

Decent play from France as Mbappe and Camavinga combine well but the final shot is tame and easy for Pentz.

We're into the final ten minutes and France have Austria at arms length.

Baumgartner carded for dangerous play.

Time now starting to slip away from Austria who have still yet to muster a shot on or off target.

France have just managed one!

Griezmann is down again and seems to be in some discomfort after a challenge. 

Once again, the Atletico man slowly gets to his feet and can carry on.

Austria with plenty of pointless central possession but are void of ideas as soon as they get close to the French box. 

Camavinga and Kolo Muani coming on for France.

Dembele and Rabiot making way

Twenty minutes of the contest remain.

France still very much in control and Austria simply unable to break down the men in white.

And another France chance as Kante delivers a delightful ball but Thuram blasts the ball at Pentz.

France create two chances in quick succession with neither Griezmann nor Kounde able to take advantage. 

Austria yet to get a shot on target and we've played almost 65 minutes of football.

Big call for a penalty from Austria fans as Sabitzer seemed to get a sly push from Upamecano. Ref waves play on.

France seem to be happy to sit that little deeper and invite pressure from Austria and then strike on the break and look to the speed of Mbappe and Dembele.

Triple change for Rangnick

Triple change coming up for Austria.

To be fair to Mbappe, it was a tough one as the keeper did well in standing his ground and offering little for the striker.

Dembele carded for a push on Mwene.

First French player to have nis name taken.

Mbappe breaks free and is one on one with the Austrian keeper and looks to place the ball but fires wide. 

A more subdued start to the second half with neither side yet to establish control of proceedings. 

The bandage lasted about 20 seconds on the French star's head before he tosses it to the floor !

Posch shoots but drives the ball well over the France bar as a heavily bandaged Antoine Griezmann returns to the action.

The player is bleeding from his forehead and will need attention from the FFF medical team.

Griezmann crashes into the pitch side advertising and after a brief scare, the Atleti man is back on his feet and ok to carry on.

France restart the second period.

Being realistic though, before the tournament I'd imagine that the Austrian fans would have hoped that progressing in third place would be a solid achievemnt for their side. 

Thuram has had a particularly quiet half for Les Bleus. Deschamps will want to see the Inter Milan striker get more involved in the action.

First half in numbers

France winning in every department but one but ahead in the one that counts with the Wöber og seeing the French side ahead.

It has to be added that despite their positive showing, Austria have created very little in crystal clear scoring opportunities ad France look comfortable at the back. 

A half of football that saw the early stages dominated by France but slowly as the contest evolved, Austria found their step and started to dominate and for a spell were certainly the better team. 

Just as the men in red started to peg France back, a ball into the box from Mbappe bounced of Wöbers head and ended up in the Austrian net to give the tournament favourites a half-time lead.

Gil Manzano sounds his whistle and France lead at the break.

We'll have just one minute of added time.

We're in the final minutes of the half and that goal came at the worst possible time for Austria as they were in the asendancy.

A major blow for Rangnick's outfit who need to dig that little deeper now.

AUT 0-1 FRA

France ahead in Düsseldorf.

The best chance of the night falls to Austria as Sabitzer touches the ball into the path of Baumgartner but the RB Leipzig man makes a poor effort and Maignan saves well.

Mwene carded too for Austria as the men in red launch a counter but the final ball is poor and gathered by Maignan.

Maignan saves as the ball is deflected and ultimately is easy for the French keeper but Austria are the team on top now (and have been for the past ten minutes).

Possession after 30 minutes

France 49-51 Austria (%) 

The half progresses and Austria start to feel their way into the game and have shaken off any early shackles. 

Still yet to test the French keeper but Rangnick's men now look comfortable with their surroundings. 

First corner for Rangnick's side as Dembele is forced to track back and defend.

Sabitzer strike and easy for Maignan to gather.

Florian Grillitsch needs treatment and the Hoffenheim man is forced to leave the pitch. 

Austria momentarily down to ten men.

Twenty minutes gone and Mpabbé watch is pretty quiet with a few dribbles from the striker but we've seen more from Rabiot, Griezmann and Dembele on the ball.

Rabiot leads with an elbow on Posch but Austria waste the free and France then break with Griezmann winning the first corner kick of the evening.

Griezmann with the free kick and the ball is easy for Pentz to gather.

Wöber clips Dembele and is carded by the Spanish ref.

First name in Gil Manzano's book tonight.

France create further danger as Theo Hernandez zips the ball across the Austrian goal mouth but there is no man in a white jersey on hand to finish off.

Much better from Austria as they move the ball around nicely and the final ball into the box was just too close for Posch to get a head to.

We pass the ten minute mark and France are very much the side in control here.

Austria do look a little intimidated by the high level of their opponents tonight.

Almost ten minutes gone and Austria struggling to get into the rhythm of the action as France break and Mbappe strikes the ball into the side netting.

This time it's Rabiot who is fouled and France with another great chance to create problems.

The Atletico man strikes again but it's easily dealt with by the men in red.

Frantic start to the action ends with Laimer fouling Mbappe and France win a dangerous free which Griezmann lofts into the box.

France moving the ball around with plenty of pace and purpose.

So Austria in red shirts, white shorts get the action underway in Düsseldorf...

National anthem time in Düsseldorf and first up it's the French Le Marseillaise... 

Austria's Land der Berge, Land am Strome is next up.

Austria-France: match official

Spain's Gil Manzano is in charge of the action tonight and he will be assisted by compatriots, Diego Barbero & Angel Nevado.

Juan Martínez Munuera is on VAR duty. 

All set in Düsseldorf

We're less than ten minutes away from the Group D match as the teams make their way to the tunnel.

For the eagle eyed out there, make sure you pay attention to the French team's shorts with the pinstripes from the elegant away jersey running through to the shorts !

The France away jersey has been cited by many as one of the top shirts at the tournament. 

Will France make it all the way to Berlin on 14 July or will Austria confirm their pre-tournament billing as a 'one to watch' under Ralf Rangnick.

Austria-France: matchday weather

It's a mild evening in Dusseldorf with a current temperature of 21C-71F... ideal conditions for players and fans alike.

...and this is how tournament favourites France start.

A reminder for those just joining us of how the teams start tonight beginning with the 'home' side Austria.

The teams are warming up on the surface at the Düsseldorf Arena as kick off looms ever closer.

France issue official XI

Somewhat delayed from the official France national team account, but here's confirmation of how Deschamps' side start tonight.

Quality across the park... Kounde at the back, Griezmann in midfield and Real Madrid's new striker up front!

Hope I'm not tempting fate when I say... we've had nine games so far in the tournament and not a single goalless draw yet so far with all games being reasonably entertaining to boot. 

Don't forget, the top two sides in each group progress automatically to the Round of 16. Those 12 sides from groups A-F will also be joined by the four best placed third sides to compose the sixteen team in the second stage.

Coming up in Group D

After Austria and France meet tonight in Düsseldorf, here's how the remaining games in the group play out:

Matchday 2

Poland-Austria

Netherlands-France

Matchday 3

Netherlands-Austria

France-Poland 

POLITICS

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France XI confirmed

Didier Deschamps will start with the following formation:

Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Theo; Kante, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Thuram.

One of the all time Euro upsets

The result from Group E between Slovakia and Belgium turns Group E on its head with many tipping both Belgium and Ukraine to secure the automatic top two berths that would secure a Round of 16 place.

Still, with two matchdays to go, anything can happen.

Slovakia shock Belgium

The hotly tipped Red Devils were beaten in Frankfurt through a solitary Schranz strike to deliver the first major surprise at the tournament with FIFA ranked #3 Belgium humbled by a side ranked #48.

We're still waiting for confirmation of the France XI.

Austria XI confirmed

Ralf Rangnick has confirmed his team ahead of the Austrian's Euro 2024 opener ... Sabitzer captain's the side with Leipzig's Baumgartner another source of danger.

Netherlands top Group D

With a late strike to break Polish hearts, the Netherlands currently sit a-top Group with their late 2-1 win over Poland in Namburg with Wout Weghorst on hand to bag the winner upon coming off the bench.

Austria fans corteo to the stadium

Austria fans seem to be in out in higher numbers tonight ahead of the Game D clash as they make their way to the Düsseldorf Arena with kick-off just over an hour away.

Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer is the man France will need to keep an eye on tonight.

The 30-year-old is set to earn his 79th cap in an Austria jersey and was names in the 2023-24 Champions League 'Team of the Season' by UEFA.

And the opponents from Austria:

Linder; Posch, Lienhart, Trauner, Mwene; Laimer, Seiwald; Wimmer, Sabitzer, Baumgartner; Gregoritsch.

How France could line up tonight:

We should have the definitive starting line-ups for both sides in approximately 20 minutes, but foresee this as the starting XI for Deschamps' side

Maignan - Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Theo Hernández - Kanté, Rabiot, Griezmann – Dembele, Mbappé, Thuram.

All eyes on Mbappé tonight

The eyes of the footballing world will be locked on one man at the Düsseldorf Arena with Kylian Mbappé one of the current global icons. 

The striker recently confirmed his long awaited move to Real Madrid and is set to be unveiled as a new 'Blanco' upon the conclusion of the tournament in mid July,

The former PSG man will be looking to cause a headache for the Austrian rear guard and will be looking at the European Championships as a platform to cement his status as one of the world's best.

EURO 2024

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French dressing room is ready

Tonight 'Les Bleus' will be Les Blancs with Austria named as the home team forcing the French side to don their very eye catching white away jersey with its pin stripes and over sized rooster badge.

The action at the Düsseldorf (home to II Bundesliga side Fortuna) gets underway at 3pm (ET) with hot favourites France against the side being tipped by many as a potential surprise package in Ralf Rangnick's Austria.

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live Euro 2024 action as our attention turns to the city of Düsseldorf as Austria face hotly tipped France.