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Yesterday β€” 25 June 2024Main stream

Deschamps admits β€˜we deserve to be second’ but expects France to click

  • France finish second after 1-1 draw with Poland
  • β€˜We will be ready for the round of 16,’ says manager

Didier Deschamps has conceded France have made life difficult for themselves after failing to top Group D but said he is optimistic his team will fully click in the last 16 and that they should treat the knockout stage as β€œa new competition”. France, two-time European champions, finished second after recording a single victory and failing to score a goal themselves in open play.

Kylian Mbappé’s penalty on his return was not enough to secured victory against the eliminated Poland, with the former Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski equalising from the spot in the 79th minute.

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Β© Photograph: Jose Breton/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

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Β© Photograph: Jose Breton/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

France settle for second place as Robert Lewandowski earns Poland point

There was the moment of unbridled joy Kylian MbappΓ© had presumably visualised in recent days: whipping off his black mask and celebrating before thousands of France supporters in the imposing, iconic steep Sudtribune. He struck a second-half penalty to relieve France’s goalscoring frustrations but by the end of a stodgy team performance he cut a contrasting figure, fidgeting with the mechanics of his mask in sticky heat. MbappΓ© was easily France’s best player but the bad news for France was there was another returning forward in the shape of Robert Lewandowski, who earned an unlikely point, also scoring from the spot.

It was a damaging goal with ramifications in Group D, Austria beating France to top spot. Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time record goalscorer and captain who scored 74 goals for Borussia Dortmund, had to retake his penalty after the France goalkeeper Mike Maignan jumped off his line prematurely to save his effort from 12 yards. Lewandowski kept his cool to repeat the same staggered run-up, waiting for Maignan to blink first, and he squeezed his shot into the same corner down to the goalkeeper’s right. MbappΓ© moved towards the touchline to ask questions of the fourth official, Rade Obrenovic, about the validity of Lewandowski’s second effort. There would be no reprieve.

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Β© Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

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Β© Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

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