In wet Leipzig, Merih Demiral emerged as Turkey’s unlikely hero, putting his team ahead in under a minute and then banging in the game-winning header just before the hour.

After defeating Romania 3-0 on Tuesday, Vincenzo Montella’s team—which was without banned captain Hakan Calhanoglu but was once again buoyed by a large crowd at the Zentralstadion—will play the Dutch in Berlin on Saturday.

In March, Austria defeated Turkey 6-1, and Montella acknowledged that he was seeking to exact revenge for that humiliating loss.

“I denied it yesterday but today I can admit that Austria was the team I wanted so that I could get rid of that stain that as a coach I had on me,” said Montella.

Turkey hopes to repeat their 16-year-old run to the final four, and they will once more have the support of their boisterous supporters in the German city.

Austria, who participated fully in an exciting match and might have won on another day, co-hosted that event.

The majority of the game saw Ralf Rangnick’s team leading, especially in the second half when they pinned Turkey back and gave up the second goal against all odds.

The 1998 World Cup saw Lilian Thuram of France score twice in the round of 32 of a major tournament; Al-Ahli center-back Demiral became the first defender from Europe to do so.

Soon after Demiral scored his fourth goal in 48 caps for his country, Stefan Posch’s flick on at another corner was forced in by Michael Gregoritsch, cutting the deficit in half.

However, Austria failed to capitalise on their superiority and lost after an outstanding save by Mert Gunok kept Christoph Baumgartner from tying the score in the last seconds of extra time.

“I believe if the game had gone into extra-time we would have won the game because the Turkish team were exhausted and we had a physical advantage,” Rangnick told reporters.

The post Turkey beat Austria to secure Euro 2024 quarters spot appeared first on SportsClub.

Ralf Rangnick’s team won two of its three games to take first place in the rankings, although suffering a difficult tie against France and the Netherlands.

Although the Netherlands had already assured themselves of a spot in the round of 16, they will now advance as one of the top three teams, with France in second place.

Marcel Sabitzer’s goal sealed the victory for Austria, who fought with tremendous commitment and energy throughout, especially when the Netherlands got off to a quick start in the second half.

Donyell Malen’s header from Alexander Prass’s dangerous cross gave the Austrians a six-minute lead.

Furthermore, Austria gained charge as the Netherlands occasionally found it difficult to get a touch on the ball, even though Malen had an opportunity to redeem himself but scuffed his effort.

Sabitzer and Marko Arnautovic gave Rangnick’s team opportunities to extend their lead, but the Netherlands tied the score after just 75 seconds of play in the second half.

In the second half, the Dutch came out swinging and levelled through a superb strike by Cody Gakpo.

The pace changed as a result, and Austria managed to hang on until Virgil van Dijk’s header went over the crossbar.

Unfortunately, Stefan de Vrij could only assist Romano Schmid’s strong header over the line as Austria survived the storm and regained the lead.

After Memphis Depay’s close-range volley eluded the video assistant referee’s check for a handball, the Dutch appeared to have gained a draw. However, Sabitzer had the last say when he broke through and drove into the roof of the net, thrilling the Austrian fans.

Photo by EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

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Seven minutes before halftime in Duesseldorf, Woeber deflected Mbappe’s cutback into his own net, allowing the French, who are among the top-ranked teams in the competition, to overcome a difficult test.

Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria has significantly improved, and they frequently caused problems for the 2022 World Cup runners-up, who saw Mbappe leave the pitch at the end after being injured in a collision.

He had earlier missed a fantastic opportunity to extend France’s lead, and sources close to the player confirmed he had suffered a broken nose in the unintentional collision with Kevin Danso.

“He is in a bad way. He is not well. His nose is a mess, that’s for sure. That is the black mark of the evening for us,” France coach Didier Deschamps said, without confirming the extent of the injury.

“We had the chance to put the game to bed and it is true that we could have been more precise in attack, but it’s very good to start with a victory,” Deschamps said of the result.

In spite of Mbappe’s injury, France will be happy with their victory following a build-up that was dominated more by political discourse than by football.

In recent days, Mbappe and other French players have devoted a significant portion of their time to answering questions from the media over the country’s impending elections, which might see the far-right National Rally emerge as the largest party.

Any mistake in this area would have suggested that they were not entirely focused on the competition.

As a result, France and the Netherlands, who overcame Poland 2-1 on Sunday, are now tied for third place in Group D.

Next up, France and the Netherlands play in Leipzig on Friday, while Austria plays Poland in Berlin on the same day.

“We are obviously disappointed with the result. No France player scored against us in 100 minutes, just a very unfortunate own goal,” said Rangnick.

“I think Didier Deschamps was really happy when the final whistle came which shows how well my team played.”

Austria had some great records going into the competition, and their squad is comfortable in these Euros—Rangnick is German, and eight members of their starting lineup competed in the German Bundesliga the previous year.

But under the leadership of Mbappe, their captain, the French are maybe the most gifted team in the competition.

His only other experience at the Euros was in 2021, where he had a dreadful time losing to Switzerland in a shootout after missing the game-winning penalty.

With his first significant opportunity coming up inside eight minutes of the game, the new Real Madrid addition will be perplexed as to why he did not score.

Mbappe was released by Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez together. He cut in from the left and shaped to curl a shot into the far corner, but he ultimately went for the near post.

Patrick Pentz, the Austrian custodian, was able to make the save, though.

The Austrians got into the game and missed a fantastic opportunity to take the lead on the thirty-sixth minute.

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan stopped captain Marcel Sabitzer from scoring after he knocked down a left-wing cross from Michael Gregoritsch for Christoph Baumgartner.

Two minutes later, France took the lead, so that proved to be crucial.

After Ousmane Dembele sent the ball to Mbappe on the right, the unfortunate Woeber headed his cutback into the far corner of his own net. Mbappe then produced a stepover to get to the byline.

In first-half stoppage time, Pentz stopped Mbappe from going past the custodian, but that was nothing compared to the opportunity he missed ten minutes later.

Mbappe was sent off by Adrien Rabiot, who dashed in behind the Austrian defence, but with just the custodian to beat, he managed to misfire on his attempt.

With the game hanging in the balance, Austria persisted in trying, but in vain, to bring about a leveller.

Their supporters were not very thrilled with what they saw as Mbappe’s late timewasting, since he required medical attention following his collision with Danso in the box.

After leaving the pitch with blood on his jersey, he returned and sat down, receiving a yellow card before Olivier Giroud took his place.

Photo by EPA/Leszek Szymanski

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Group A

GERMANY
Previous Euros: 13
Best finish: Winners (1972, 1980, 1996)

The hosts and automatically one of the favourites, even if results have been patchy in the past 12 months. Never write off a German side on home soil, especially one with quality across the park like this one. Coach Julian Nagelsmann is only in charge until the end of this tournament.

SCOTLAND
Previous Euros: 3
Best finish: Group stage (1992, 1996, 2020)

Scotland were among the first teams to qualify after an excellent preliminaries campaign and head to a second successive Euros finals. They have gone out in the pool stages in all of their three previous visits, so the target will be the round of 16.

HUNGARY
Previous Euros: 4
Best finish: Third place (1964)

Hungary are not the power of old, but there are signs they have become competitive again in recent years. They have qualified for their third Euros on the trot and will be relieved to have a better group than in 2020, when they drew France, Germany and Portugal! Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is a key man.

SWITZERLAND
Previous Euros: 5
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2020)

A team no-one wants to face. Switzerland may not have global stars, but they are organised and structured and have enough quality to hurt anyone, as they showed when they dumped powerhouse France out in the round of 16 the last time out. They could be a dark horse.

GROUP B

SPAIN
Previous Euros: 11
Best finish: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)

This is a new-look Spain compared to the Golden Generation of the past and while they may not have the same aura, they will be a dangerous team at the finals and one of the contenders for the title. Watch out for 16-year-old Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

CROATIA
Previous Euros: 6
Best finish: Quarterfinals (1996, 2008)

Croatia have been top-three finishers in back-to-back World Cups but were eliminated in the round of 16 in their past two Euros finals appearances. Captain and talisman Luka Modrić could feature in his ninth major international tournament and is still a key man for the side.

ITALY
Previous Euros: 10

Best finish: Winners (1968, 2020)

The defending champions have had a few topsy-turvy years, going from Euro 2020 winners to failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. Coach Luciano Spalletti’s side needed a 0–0 draw with Ukraine to book their place at the finals. This is a more workmanlike Italy than the outstanding sides of the past.

GROUP C

SLOVENIA
Previous Euros: 1
Best finish: Group stage (2000)

After a long wait for Slovenia to return to the top European stage, they have a useful squad but may battle to go beyond the group matches. RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Šeško and Udinese midfielder Sandi Lovrić are players to watch.

DENMARK
Previous Euros: 9
Best finish: Winners (1992)

The Danes claimed arguably the greatest surprise win in football finals history when they went from being on holiday at the beach to claiming the title in 1992 as last-minute replacements for Yugoslavia. Kasper Hjulmand’s (right) experienced squad reached the semifinals in 2020.

SERBIA
Previous Euros: 5
Best finish: Runners-up (1960, 1968)

Serbia last qualified in 2000 as Yugoslavia, so it has been a long wait. With an impressive squad containing the likes of Dušan Vlahović from Juventus, Fenerbahçe’s Dušan Tadić and AC Milan forward Luka Jović, they could spring a surprise.

ENGLAND
Previous Euros: 10
Best finish: Runners-up (2020)

Every year, they are touted as title contenders, but fall short, though they came close on home soil in 2020 when they lost in the final to Italy on penalties. They have the talent to win it, do they have the mentality? Could this be Jude Bellingham’s tournament?

GROUP D

POLAND
Previous Euros: 4
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2016)

Poland needed the playoffs to qualify after finishing behind Albania and Czech Republic in their pool, beating Estonia and Wales. That was hardly convincing, but any side with Robert Lewandowski in the line-up is dangerous.

NETHERLANDS
Previous Euros: 10
Best finish: Winners (1988)

The Dutch are always contenders (left) and while this is certainly not their best generation, you would not write them off. Ronald Koeman is now in his second spell as coach of his nation, having already won the tournament as a player in 1988. He led them to third in the Nations League last year.

AUSTRIA
Previous Euros: 3
Best finish: Round of 16 (2020)

Coach Ralf Rangnick is German, and the bulk of his squad play in the German Bundesliga, so the Austrian players will feel right at home. Midfielders Marcel Sabitzer, Christoph Baumgartner and Konrad Laimer are all players to watch, along with veteran forward Marko Arnautović.

FRANCE
Previous Euros: 10
Best finish: Winners (1984, 2000)

Always a power on the continent, they have been to the past two World Cup finals (winning in 2018) and reached the Euros f inal in 2016 as hosts, but lost to Portugal. With quality across the park, Kylian Mbappé remains the man to watch, and he loves tournament football.

GROUP E

BELGIUM
Previous Euros: 6
Best finish: Runners-up (1980)

The Red Devils were quarterfinalists at the two most recent Euros but failed to progress from the group stage at the 2022 World Cup. However, they are unbeaten since then under coach Domenico Tedesco. Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne are key to their chances.

SLOVAKIA
Previous Euros: 5
Best finish: Winners (1976)

Slovakia have qualified for their third successive Euros, and were the winners in 1976 as part of Czechoslovakia. Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka and Boavista striker Róbert Boženík are two to keep your eye on.

ROMANIA
Previous Euros: 5
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2000)

Romania have developed a very useful team and will hope to repeat their heroics of Euro 2000, when they progressed from a group containing Portugal, England and Germany before being knocked out by Italy in the quarterfinals.

UKRAINE
Previous Euros: 3
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2020)

War-torn Ukraine mounted comebacks against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland to secure playoff qualification for their fourth Euros in a row. They will get lots of sympathy in Germany, but also have top players in forward Roman Yaremchuk, winger Mykhailo Mudryk and defender Vitaliy Mykolenko.

GROUP F

TURKEY
Previous Euros: 5
Best finish: Semifinals (2008)

Türkiye are back again for the third time in a row with their best previous showing a last-four tie with Germany in 2008, when they lost a thriller 3–2. They lack a bit of firepower up front but have plenty of experience, not least Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu.

GEORGIA
Previous Euros: None
Best finish: None

Willy Sagnol’s side finished fourth in their pool and then beat Luxembourg and 2004 champions Greece in the playoffs to reach a first ever major finals of any sort. Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the key man and one of the form players in Europe.

PORTUGAL
Previous Euros: 8
Best finish: Winners (2016)

New head coach Roberto Martínez has qualified the side for the finals after leaving Belgium. Cristiano Ronaldo will make his sixth Euro finals appearance and holds records for the most goals (14) and appearances (25) at the tournament. Check out the goals voted the best of the Euro 2024 qualifiers!

CZECH REPUBLIC
Previous Euros: 10
Best finish: Winners (1976)

Their victory 48 years ago came as Czechoslovakia, but despite the breakup of that country, Czechia will make an eighth successive appearance at the finals. Bayer Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick is their main source of goals along with captain Tomáš Souček.

Photo by Backpagepix

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It was not even that long ago that Germany were perennial contenders and frequent winners of major competitions.

But their most recent World Cup success in 2014 has been followed by two tournaments, in Russia and Qatar, where they could not get past the first round, something that had only previously happened in 1938.

Similarly in the Euros, Germany floundered during the most recent tournament, exiting in the round of 16, having thrice previously been winners, and runners-up on another three occasions.

Last year, when their warm-up results were going awry, the Germans took the unprecedented step of firing a coach, with Hansi Flick booted and Julian Nagelsmann brought in as a stopgap measure.

Whether the youth coach proves a panacea or a disappointing flash in the pan, as his previous tenure at Bayern Munich suggests he might be, remains to be seen.

Instead, the favourites for the Euros will be England, France, Portugal and Spain, with the Dutch and Belgians being credible outsiders. Portugal will likely bring Cristiano Ronaldo with them for a swansong.

He will make his sixth Euro finals appearance already holding records for the most goals (14) and appearances (25) at the tournament.

But this is a tournament tailor made for the new generation of world stars – Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and teenager Lamine Yamal from Spain.

It all gets underway in Hamburg on June 14 and concludes one month later with the final in Berlin.

GROUP A
GERMANY: This year’s hosts open the tournament against Scotland in their first competitive fixture since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where, despite beating Costa Rica 4–2 in their final group game, they crashed out at the first hurdle.

HUNGARY: After going 44 years without qualifying for a Euros finals between 1972, when they finished fourth, and 2016, Hungary have now made it to their third tournament in a row.

SCOTLAND: They have qualified for back-to-back tournaments but have not won a game at the tournament since Euro ’96 in England.

SWITZERLAND: Their stand-out performance came in 2020, when they progressed through the group stage and stunned the French on penalties in the round of 16 before a quarterfinal exit at the hands of Spain, also on spot kicks.

GROUP B

ALBANIA: They made their debut at Euro 2016 and memorably defeated Romania 1-0 in their last group game, and this is their second appearance.

CROATIA: Captain and talisman Luka Modrić could feature in his ninth major international tournament for the World Cup semifinalists, who were eliminated during the round of 16 in their most recent two Euros finals appearances.

ITALY: The title-holders (right) started their campaign under Roberto Mancini but ended it off coached by Luciano Spalletti as they came close to missing out on the tournament.

SPAIN: Only Germany have taken part in more Euros finals than Spain (top), who will this year be making their 12th appearance at the tournament.

GROUP C

DENMARK: Coach Kasper Hjulmand’s experienced squad reached the last four at Euro 2020, their best showing at any finals since they famously won the competition in 1992.

ENGLAND: Manager Gareth Southgate will be hoping to go one better than last time, when the Three Lions lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties at Wembley.

SERBIA: With an impressive squad containing the likes of Dušan Vlahović from Juventus, Fenerbahçe’s Dušan Tadić and AC Milan forward Luka Jović, Serbia will have high hopes of making an impression.

SLOVENIA: Formerly part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia are at a major international tournament for only the fourth time, the first time since the 2010 World Cup.

GROUP D

AUSTRIA: This is Austria’s third successive Euros and their fourth in total; they co-hosted the 2008 competition, their tournament debut, with neighbours Switzerland.

FRANCE: The two-time winners have not missed a finals tournament since 1988 and were hosts in 2016, when they lost to Portugal in the final.

NETHERLANDS: Ronald Koeman is in his second spell as coach of his nation (below), having won the tournament as a player in 1988.

POLAND: Michał Probierz’s side came through the playoffs in March to qualify, booking their passage with a shootout victory against Wales after 120 goalless minutes in Cardiff.

GROUP E

BELGIUM: The Red Devils were quarterfinalists at the past two Euros but failed to progress from the group stage at the 2022 World Cup finals.

ROMANIA: They will be hoping to repeat their heroics of Euros 2000, where they progressed from a group containing Portugal, England and Germany before being knocked out by Italy in the quarterfinals.

SLOVAKIA: They qualified for their third consecutive Euros finals, with their best performance coming in 2016, when they progressed to the round of 16 before being beaten by Germany.

UKRAINE: Serhiy Rebrov’s team beat Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in dramatic playoff games to secure qualification for their fourth Euros in a row.

GROUP F

CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czechs have reached the quarterfinals (twice), semifinals and final in the past seven editions as they bid for a repeat of their Antonín Panenka-inspired triumph of 1976.

GEORGIA: Willy Sagnol’s charges made history in the playoffs, defeating Luxembourg and Greece, the latter on penalties, to reach their first-ever major finals.

PORTUGAL: They were the only team (above) to qualify for the event with a 100% record.

TURKEY: They have been knocked out in the group stage in their last two appearances but memorably made it to the semifinals in 2008, when they lost 3–2 to Germany in a thriller.

Photo by EPA/ANNA SZILAGYI

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The Authentic version is created from PUMA’s innovative, ultra-light ULTRAWEAVE technology, while the Replica jerseys are crafted with PUMA’s RE:FIBRE recycling technology.

The RE:FIBRE process focuses on textile waste as the primary source of material to create new textiles. The recycled material can be used for recycling again and again without losing quality – making RE:FIBRE a more long-term solution for recycling polyester textile waste.

Through the RE:FIBRE program, PUMA is keen to address the challenge of textile waste via a long-term solution for recycling. The technology also looks to diversify the fashion industry’s main source of recycled polyester in garments from being less reliant on clear plastic bottles.

The RE:FIBRE process uses any polyester material – from factory offcuts, faulty goods to pre-loved clothes which allows new garments to be recycled from any color textile to any color desired.

PUMA’s further commitment to sustainability is evident by PUMA’s move to introduce the RE:FIBRE initiative to their Club Replica jerseys for the 2024/25 season.

Nora-Sophie Lehmer, Senior Product Line Manager Teamsport Apparel Excellence, said: “The launch of our new Home and Away National team kits marks a great new milestone for PUMA and our sustainability targets. For the first time our National team Replica jerseys will be made from RE:FIBRE. Not only that but from the start of the 2024/25 season we have also developed our Club Replica jerseys using the RE:FIBRE initiative, this will feature 35 clubs and more than three million garments made from RE:FIBRE creating a more circular and sustainable way of producing football jerseys.”

The new collection of jerseys for Austria, Czech Republic, Iceland, Switzerland and Serbia embrace the unique nature and culture of each country. These designs celebrate the rich heritage of each nation to ensure a lasting emotional connection for generations to come.

The 2024 Austria Replica Home kit features a red base and intricately weaves Jugendstil architectural beauty into its design, combining bespoke graphics with proud details. The white Away kit, adorned with vibrant blue accents, mirrors the nation’s affinity for nature and exploration.

The Czech Republic red Home kit incorporates the nation’s colors alongside an abstract print derived from the double-tailed lion emblem, infusing a modern flair into this traditional symbol. The white Away kit pays homage to the relentless determination of the Czech Republic’s class of 2004 with a classic design, featuring repeated double-tailed lion emblems as a proud nod to the team’s spirit.

Iceland’s 2024 blue Home kit draws inspiration from the breath-taking ice glaciers covering 11% of the country, symbolizing the deep connection between the people, the team, and the surrounding landscape. The Iceland Away kit, with an ash grey base illuminated by fiery accents, embodies the energy of Iceland’s volcanic landscape, representing the team’s power, passion, and determination while honouring the intertwined natural and cultural heritage.

Embracing the essence of Swiss culture, the 2024 Switzerland red Home kit seamlessly blends heritage and Alpine elegance with edelweiss flower graphics inspired by traditional Swiss clothing. Meanwhile, the white Away kit draws inspiration from the iconic Jungfraujoch railway station in the Swiss Alps, capturing the harmonious fusion of natural beauty and engineering excellence that defines Switzerland.

Serbia’s 2024 red Home kit spreads its wings with graphics representing an X-ray view of an eagle’s wing, symbolizing both the team’s bravery on the pitch and Serbia’s storied heritage in sports and science. The white Away kit, with a crisp white base and blue accents, celebrates Serbia’s natural and cultural landscape, featuring knitted sleeve cuffs inspired by the mystical Đavolja Varoš (Devil’s Town) rock formation on Radan Mountain in South Serbia.

All RE:FIBRE garments are made of at least 95% recycled textile waste and other used materials made of polyester. There is only one Forever – Let’s make it better.

Only the Home kits will be available locally, from 26 April at PUMA.com. RRP R1199.00.

The post PUMA unveils Euro team home & away kits appeared first on SportsClub.

Mbappe showcased his phenomenal pace and strength on the way before finishing emphatically to put the reigning world champions ahead in the 56th minute at the Stade de France.

The recalled Olivier Giroud doubled their lead nine minutes later as France ran out deserved winners to stave off the threat of relegation from the top tier of the Nations League, a competition they won just last year.

Didier Deschamps’ side still need to win their last Group A1 game away in Denmark on Sunday to be certain of avoiding relegation, while qualification for the four-team finals next June is already out of reach.

France’s failure to win any of their four games in June is the reason for that, but the priority for Les Bleus now is the World Cup, with the first game of their title defence in Qatar exactly two months away.

Deschamps will hope to have recovered at least the majority of his crocked stars by the time that match against Australia comes around on November 22.

Those missing from this game would make up a very strong team in their own right, with the absentees including goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris; centre-backs Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe; left-back Theo Hernandez; midfield lynchpin N’Golo Kante and forward Kingsley Coman.

Karim Benzema is currently out too, and then there is Paul Pogba, who faces a race against time to recover from knee surgery.

Pogba has also been in the headlines after filing a complaint with Italian prosecutors saying he was the target of a 13 million-euro ($13m) blackmail plot.

His brother Mathias is one of five people charged and detained in the case.

– Giroud closes on goals record –
Meanwhile this week began with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe refusing to take part in a photo shoot in a row with the French Football Federation over image rights.

But neither Mbappe nor his teammates appeared distracted as they outclassed Austria.

Mbappe had the ball in the net inside 90 seconds only to be denied by the offside flag, and he was a constant threat in the first half.

France should have led at the interval but Austria had goalkeeper Patrick Pentz to thank for a sensational double save in the 35th minute.

Pentz tipped Aurelien Tchouameni’s acrobatic overhead kick onto the bar and then got down low to save Antoine Griezmann’s follow-up attempt.

Before that the hosts — who gave debuts to Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile and his club colleague, midfielder Youssouf Fofana — saw their injury worries increase when Barcelona’s Jules Kounde limped out.

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan also came off at half-time to be replaced by West Ham United’s Alphonse Areola, and France went ahead soon after.

Mbappe collected a Giroud pass on the left before surging inside, bouncing off Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer, and lashing a shot beyond Pentz.

He celebrated by mimicking a photographer, an apparent nod to the troublesome quarrel over image rights.

Giroud then marked his return to the side by heading in Griezmann’s cross to make it 2-0 with his 49th international goal.

He is now just two shy of Thierry Henry’s French record of 51.

The post Mbappe stars as France shrug off troubles to outclass Austria appeared first on SportsClub.

Just @BenPavard28 doing Benjamin Pavard things in training with les Bleus. 🔥#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/kSH8TV7YxO

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 20, 2022

The post Watch: Pavard’s perfectly timed volley France’s training session appeared first on SportsClub.

Public training session! #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/WdwC8VlXGq

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 21, 2022

Warming up inside before going out to train 👊 #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/eJvDGlGpWJ

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 21, 2022

The post Watch: France’s final preparations for Nations League clash appeared first on SportsClub.

Veteran Croatia captain Modric stroked in his spot-kick after just five minutes at the Stade de France, and the home side could not find an equaliser despite Kylian Mbappe returning to join Karim Benzema in the starting line-up.

France won the previous edition of the Nations League last year but they have managed just two points from their four outings this month, with home defeats against Denmark and now Croatia sandwiching draws away to the Croats and in Austria.

As a result, Les Bleus are bottom of League A, Group 1, seven points behind leaders Denmark who beat Austria 2-0 in Copenhagen on Monday with first-half goals by Jonas Wind and Andreas Skov Olsen.

Didier Deschamps’ team may now need to win their last two group games in September to avoid being relegated to the less glamorous League B.

Those matches are also the only games they have left before they begin their defence of the World Cup against Australia in Qatar in November.

This clash was the latest meeting between the sides who contested the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow, although Mbappe, Modric and Marcelo Brozovic were the only players who started that day to line up at kick-off here.

The home fans in the crowd of over 77,000 were left stunned as the Israeli referee awarded the visitors an early penalty when Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate was adjudged to have fouled Josip Brekalo.

The evergreen Modric, back at the ground where he won the Champions League with Real Madrid at the end of last month, made no mistake with the resulting penalty even though France goalkeeper Mike Maignan got a touch.

From then on it took the occasional burst of pace by Mbappe to bring the crowd to life, although the closest France came to scoring in the first half was when Christopher Nkunku blasted just wide from range.

Mbappe had come off injured against Denmark and so missed the draw in Croatia before emerging from the bench to score a late equaliser in Austria.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward did his best to conjure a leveller here as he came close twice early in the second half, and the hosts also had an appeal for a penalty dismissed when Lucas Digne went down in the area.

Meanwhile Maignan parried away a fine strike by substitute Lovro Majer at the other end, but Croatia — with Modric as majestic as ever — saw the game out as goalkeeper Ivica Ivusic stopped Josip Sutalo scoring an own-goal.

The final whistle was greeted by jeers and Deschamps will hope France’s summer slump is simply down to the fatigue among his players after a long campaign, rather than a sign of what might be to come later in the year.

The last raft of Nations League matches before the curtain comes down on the European season will take place on Tuesday, when Germany take on Italy in Moenchengladbach in the standout game.

In the other game of the group, Jonas Wind scored one goal and made another as Denmark cruised to a 2-0 win over Austria in their Nations League Group A1 clash at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium on Monday that leaves the Danes top of the group after four games.

The 23-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Andreas Skov Olsen netted the second with a cool side-footed finish after Wind found him in the box with a clever pass nine minutes before the break.

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen received a raucous ovation when he came on in the second half a year and a day after collapsing on the Parken pitch due to a heart problem in a Euro 2020 group game against Finland and he almost scored with an 87th-minute shot that was palmed onto the post.

The win takes Denmark to nine points and are two ahead of Croatia, who beat world champions France 1-0 in Paris to leave the French bottom on two points. Austria are third with four.

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