Kylian Mbappe of France shoots during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D match between Austria and France in Dusseldorf, Germany, on June 17, 2024. Xinhua
France beat Austria 1-0 Monday in a 2024 UEFA European Football Championship (EURO 2024) Group D match.
Austrian Maximilian Wober's header went into his own net to give France the lead in the 38th minute at Dusseldorf Arena.
French star Kylian Mbappe wasted a chance to double the lead as Austrian goalie Patrick Pentz's timely intervention blocked his attempt in the 45th minute, just before the half-time whistle.
Mbappe missed another goal when one on one against Pentz in the 55th minute.
Mbappe had to come off with a nose injury after missing another goal chance in the 85th minute. But before he was substituted, he was shown a yellow card because he entered the field before his treatment was completed.
After the Blues missed many chances to extend their lead, the match ended 1-0.
France are just behind the Netherlands with three points and a goal difference, while Austria are in fourth spot without any points in the Group D standings.
Meanwhile, Slovakia shocked Belgium by winning 1-0 in a Group E match of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship (EURO 2024) on Monday.
Belgium wasted no time getting an early lead as striker Romelu Lukaku aimed his shot from the six-yard box to Slovakian goalie Martin Dubravka in the third minute at Frankfurt Arena.
Slovakian forward Ivan Schranz completed the return ball from Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels with a shot from a narrow angle in the seventh minute and brought the lead to his team.
Belgian midfielder Leandro Trossard missed the chance to equalize in the 21st minute as his long shot to an empty Slovakian goal was off target.
Casteels made a vital save by denying Slovakian winger Lukas Haraslin's accurate long shot in the 40th minute.
Lukaku wasted another scoring chance in the 41st minute when he was one-on-one with Dubravka.
Lukaku put one back of the net in the 57th minute but it was later disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) inspection due to an offside.
Slovakian defender David Hancko had to be treated on the sidelines after colliding with a teammate while deflecting a Belgian shot from the goal line in the 62nd minute.
The Red Devils' forward Lukaku put another one into the net but it was disallowed once more, due to a handball this time, in the 86th minute.
This game also marked Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler's first European Championship game.
Slovakia are now second in the Group E standings, behind Romania, both with three points each, while Belgium are in the number three spot without points. Anadolu
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