France fail to top group as Mbappe and Lewandowski exchange penalties

France were forced to settle for second place in Euro 2024 Group D despite Kylian Mbappe scoring his first goal at a European Championship in a 1-1 draw with Poland in Dortmund.

The two-time winners looked set to claim progress as group winners when Real Madrid-bound Mbappe, playing in a mask to protect his broken nose, converted a penalty on 56 minutes after Jakub Kiwior had fouled Ousmane Dembele.

But Poland skipper Robert Lewandowski netted the equaliser with his own spot kick on 79 minutes after VAR had deemed Dayot Upamecano guilty of a clumsy late challenge on substitute Karol Swiderski.

France keeper Mike Maignan saved the first effort, but he was deemed to have come off his line too soon and Barcelona striker Lewandowski rolled the second penalty in off the post to earn his eliminated side a deserved first point of the tournament.

Austria won the group courtesy of their 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in Berlin with the Dutch progressing in third place.

It is difficult to imagine, but France, arguably the pre-tournament favourites, have reached the last 16 of Euro 2024 without scoring a goal of their own from open play.

They needed an own goal from Max Wober to see off Austria in their tournament opener, failed to score against the Netherlands in a drab 0-0 draw and required a penalty for Kylian Mbappe to convert against a game but eliminated Poland side, who were only playing for pride after losing their opening two Group D matches.

There is an obvious lack of fluency in the final third which coach Didier Deschamps must address before they face the runners-up in Group E in the last 16.

That could be Belgium, Romania, Slovakia or Ukraine with each team on three points before their final round of fixtures on Wednesday evening.

Had big gloves to fill in replacing national icon Wojciech Szczesny, but the Bologna keeper produced a fine display against the former world champions to ensure his national side depart the Euros earning a merited point and giving their vociferous army of fans a joyous day out in the baking sunshine of Dortmund.

France: Maignan 6, Kounde 6, Upamecano 6, Saliba 7, Hernandez 6, Kante 6, Tchouameni 6, Rabiot 6, Dembele 6, Mbappe 8, Barcola 7. Subs: Fofana 6, Camavinga 6, Griezmann 6, Giroud 6, Kolo Muani 6

Poland: Skorupski 8, Bednarek 7, Dawidowicz 7, Kiwior 7, Frankowski 6, Syzmanski 7, Zielinski 7, Moder 7, Zalewski 7, Urbanski 7, Lewandowski 8. Subs: Skoras 6, Swiderski 7

20′ KANTE SHOWS HIS QUALITY Carries the ball towards the Poland box with real menace before slipping in Dembele, but his shot on target is well saved by Skorupski. Excellent save to deny France the lead.

51′ MBAPPE ASKING QUESTIONS OF POLAND He tries to swerve an effort into the net from distance, but Skorupski dives to his left to make a solid stop before another pop at the target flies past the post with the Poland keeper happy to see it elude his left-hand post.

56′ FRANCE HAVE A PENALTY! Dembele taken out of the action late by Jakub Kiwior. Couldn’t resist leaving his leg dangling in as Dembele went to ground and that is an obvious decision. No neeed for VAR there.

57′ GOAL! (MBAPPE) FRANCE 1-0 POLAND And there you go. A 48th international goal for Mbappe as he planted the ball to the keeper’s left as Korupski went right. Lovely pen. Off comes the mask to celebrate, and France are 1-0 ahead.

76′ POLAND HAVE A PENALTY! VAR gets involved as Upamecano is deemed to be late on Karol Swiderski. And the referee agrees with VAR. Points to the spot.

79′ GOAL! FRANCE 1-1 POLAND (LEWANDOWSKI) Mike Maignan dives to his right to save the first Lewandoswi effort, but a retake is ordered by the referee for coming off his line too early. And the Poland striker tucks it away to the same side. In off the post and Poland are level at 1-1. Drama in Dortmund.