Mbappe magic as France do just enough for victory

It was as a gallant but defeated Austria pressed that a certain push-and-pull became all the clearer with this French team.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

They are a side that obstinately waits for the opposition, as everyone watching on waits for their great star to do something.

That sense has only been amplified in the last week, with how Kylian Mbappe made himself the main headline of Euro 2024 as well as the main event in how he spoke out about the “importance” of the French elections. It wasn’t quite a signature performance to follow but it did have a significant impact.

In an obdurate 1-0 win over Austria, Mbappe forced the only goal with a cross that deflected in off Maximilian Wöber’s head. He then wasted a huge opportunity with one uncharacteristic miss from a one-on-one before getting booked for time-wasting after suffering what looked like a broken nose. He was then booed off by Austrian fans rather than roared off in the way he has maybe become accustomed to.

It was a performance that had a bit of everything without really being complete. You can say the same for the French team as a whole, except for the fact they make this minimalism work for them more than any other team.

Manager Didier Deschamps doesn’t even pretend to want the kind of spectacular opening displays that Germany offered in Euro 2024. He knows how to get through tournaments, and that approach has essentially made this France the modern equivalent of Germany 1980-96. They are almost always going to be in the latter stages, and are the team you probably need to beat to go the distance. They started this tournament in the way they know best. They did enough.