On a humid night in Düsseldorf, France eased their way into this tournament with a controlled 1-0 defeat of a game but limited Austria. A first-half own goal settled the match. Otherwise Didier Deschamps’ team played within its limits and opened up the right side of Austria’s defence whenever Kylian Mbappé, who finished the game with a broken nose, stretched his legs.
Starting slowly, keeping the miles in your legs: this French team is settled enough to make these things feel like a point of strength. Not much has changed since Qatar. The shape was the familiar 4-3-3. This is still Total Deschamps, with athleticism and technical ease in every position, and Mbappé always held like a cocked right hand, a constant threat when he’s not an actual knockout punch.
