![Mbappe magic as France do just enough for victory](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1718682565/articles/YLDETkYtD1718692537307/MBAPPE-MAGIC-AS-FRANCE-DO-JUST-ENOUGH-FOR-VICTORY.jpg)
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.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 18, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 18, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
![Pogacar faces generation's greatest stage racers in fight for third Tour de France win](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/g1m-3Tm5d1719646868470/POGACAR-FACES-GENERATIONS-GREATEST-STAGE-RACERS-IN-FIGHT-FOR-THIRD-TOUR-DE-FRANCE-WIN.jpg)
Pogacar faces generation's greatest stage racers in fight for third Tour de France win
Vingegaard, Roglic and debutant Evenepoel feature in our guide to five race contenders and five more riders to watch
![Thanks, Andy! How Murray allowed small town scarred by tragedy to redefine itself](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/uvJ3mly6t1719646759432/THANKS-ANDY-HOW-MURRAY-ALLOWED-SMALL-TOWN-SCARRED-BY-TRAGEDY-TO-REDEFINE-ITSELF.jpg)
Thanks, Andy! How Murray allowed small town scarred by tragedy to redefine itself
Andy Murray didn't put Dunblane on the map. It was already there, sitting quietly between Stirling and Perthshire in central Scotland, when a sleepy town home to a few thousand people became the scene of Britain’s deadliest mass shooting.
![Man who turned Pep down could be key for Southgate](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/3yY6tiQzX1719646684673/MAN-WHO-TURNED-PEP-DOWN-COULD-BE-KEY-FOR-SOUTHGATE.jpg)
Man who turned Pep down could be key for Southgate
Cole Palmer can seem like the missing link for England, the footballer who can give them something they are lacking. And as Gareth Southgate's side still miss a left-footer who can play left-back, who is capable of contributing in the final third, there came an unexpected revelation.
![Why Slovakia must believe they can knock England out](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/w60xhe4am1719646599258/WHY-SLOVAKIA-MUST-BELIEVE-THEY-CAN-KNOCK-ENGLAND-OUT.jpg)
Why Slovakia must believe they can knock England out
Slovakia take on England tomorrow in the Round of 16 in Gelsenkirchen. An advance to the knockout stages - their second in eight years - is already a big success, but Slovakia feel there is more to achieve against a heavily criticised Gareth Southgate side.
![Spalletti's trying to win the trophy an outburst at a time](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/o4YOM-PVL1719646524875/SPALLETTIS-TRYING-TO-WIN-THE-TROPHY-AN-OUTBURST-AT-A-TIME.jpg)
Spalletti's trying to win the trophy an outburst at a time
There was a point on Monday night, when Luciano Spalletti was mid-rant, when the thought occurred that the famously awkward Aurelio De Laurentiis might not have been the awkward one in their relationship. Or the most awkward one, anyway.
![£52bn stock market listing could rebound on Starmer](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/ybzviTlf91719646461420/52BN-STOCK-MARKET-LISTING-COULD-REBOUND-ON-STARMER.jpg)
£52bn stock market listing could rebound on Starmer
Huge flotation sounds like a coup for Labour's business friendly ambitions. But beware
![Baldwin fails in attempt to dismiss manslaughter case](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/1miJKI-141719646417876/BALDWIN-FAILS-IN-ATTEMPT-TO-DISMISS-MANSLAUGHTER-CASE.jpg)
Baldwin fails in attempt to dismiss manslaughter case
A court ruling yesterday put an involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin on track for trial early next month as a judge denied a request to dismiss the case on complaints that key evidence was damaged by the FBI during forensic testing. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sided with prosecutors in rejecting a motion to dismiss the case.
![French far-right leads in final polls ahead of vote](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/fdCFxF6n21719646359863/FRENCH-FARRIGHT-LEADS-IN-FINAL-POLLS-AHEAD-OF-VOTE.jpg)
French far-right leads in final polls ahead of vote
Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party is increasing its lead in the polls as campaigning reached its final stages in France's snap election yesterday.
![Iran heads to the polls as Middle East future at stake](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/9yw_iuVnr1719645579015/IRAN-HEADS-TO-THE-POLLS-AS-MIDDLE-EAST-FUTURE-AT-STAKE.jpg)
Iran heads to the polls as Middle East future at stake
Election follows death of the president in helicopter crash
!['My first feeling was not of upset or anger... it was fear'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1749206/YWO8wmkWi1719645065934/MY-FIRST-FEELING-WAS-NOT-OF-UPSET-OR-ANGER-IT-WAS-FEAR.jpg)
'My first feeling was not of upset or anger... it was fear'
With his country poised to take over the EU presidency, a Hungarian writer talks about homophobic laws and his worries for the young, after his children's book was banned