Poland salvaged a point and some pride following a spirited 1-1 draw against France in their final game of Euro 2024.
Already doomed to finish bottom of Group D after their limp showing against Austria last Friday, coach Michał Probierz made five changes to his side handing Robert Lewandowski his first start of the tournament.
Jakub Moder, Sebastian Szymański and Kacper Urbański also started, while Łukasz Skorupski replaced Wojciech Szczęsny in goal.
Kicking-off in a smoky haze, the first-half saw Skorupski called into action on several occasions with the Bologna keeper blocking a rasping shot from Hernández in the eleventh minute and a stinging close range effort from Dembele eight minutes later.
Having looked so flat-footed against Austria, the white-and-reds responded well and could have equalized on 33 minutes, only for Lewandowski to head wide from eight yards. As the half reached its end, France turned the thumbscrews and were unlucky to head into the break with the match still goalless.
Come the second-half, France continued to apply the pressure with Skorupski again playing the role of hero - just three minutes into play, the keeper did well to palm away a Mbappe curler.
France’s persistence would pay dividends just minutes later with referee Marco Guida having no choice but to award a penalty after Jakub Kiwior brought down Dembele in the box. Sending Skorupski the wrong way, Mbappe stroked the ball home to chalk up his first goal of the Euros.
Given the toothless nature of their performance against Austria, it was a surprise that Poland were able to rally. With the game petering out, the talismanic Lewandowski got Polish tails wagging with a 30-yard shot whistling just past the post. On 76 minutes, Poland’s captain was back in the spotlight after Upamecano clipped Świderski in the box.
Standing up to take the spotkick, Lewandowski was left red-faced after a bizarre run-up was followed by a scuffed penalty saved by Mike Maignan. The Barca forward’s blushes were saved, however, with VAR ruling that the French keeper had moved off his line before the penalty was struck.
Given a second chance, Lewandowski again repeated his pause-filled run-up before firing in off the post.
Thereafter, the game burst into life with both sides searching for the elusive winner. Having enjoyed a fleeting period on top, Poland finished the game pegged back by France and fortunate not to concede another penalty in the very dying stages.
For France, the result sees them finish second in the group; for the white-and-reds, the draw earns them their first and only point of Euro 2024, a tournament that will go largely forgotten back in Poland.
Jakub Moder, Sebastian Szymański and Kacper Urbański also started, while Łukasz Skorupski replaced Wojciech Szczęsny in goal.
Kicking-off in a smoky haze, the first-half saw Skorupski called into action on several occasions with the Bologna keeper blocking a rasping shot from Hernández in the eleventh minute and a stinging close range effort from Dembele eight minutes later.
Having looked so flat-footed against Austria, the white-and-reds responded well and could have equalized on 33 minutes, only for Lewandowski to head wide from eight yards. As the half reached its end, France turned the thumbscrews and were unlucky to head into the break with the match still goalless.
Come the second-half, France continued to apply the pressure with Skorupski again playing the role of hero - just three minutes into play, the keeper did well to palm away a Mbappe curler.
France’s persistence would pay dividends just minutes later with referee Marco Guida having no choice but to award a penalty after Jakub Kiwior brought down Dembele in the box. Sending Skorupski the wrong way, Mbappe stroked the ball home to chalk up his first goal of the Euros.
Given the toothless nature of their performance against Austria, it was a surprise that Poland were able to rally. With the game petering out, the talismanic Lewandowski got Polish tails wagging with a 30-yard shot whistling just past the post. On 76 minutes, Poland’s captain was back in the spotlight after Upamecano clipped Świderski in the box.
Standing up to take the spotkick, Lewandowski was left red-faced after a bizarre run-up was followed by a scuffed penalty saved by Mike Maignan. The Barca forward’s blushes were saved, however, with VAR ruling that the French keeper had moved off his line before the penalty was struck.
Given a second chance, Lewandowski again repeated his pause-filled run-up before firing in off the post.
Thereafter, the game burst into life with both sides searching for the elusive winner. Having enjoyed a fleeting period on top, Poland finished the game pegged back by France and fortunate not to concede another penalty in the very dying stages.
For France, the result sees them finish second in the group; for the white-and-reds, the draw earns them their first and only point of Euro 2024, a tournament that will go largely forgotten back in Poland.
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