Nations League: France's Kylian Mbappé salvages draw in Face-Off with Austria

Photo: Vlad Indrei

Kylian Mbappé delivered a crucial equalizer in the dying minutes, rescuing a 1-1 draw for the reigning Nations League champions, France, in their intense clash with Austria in Vienna.

Entering the field as a substitute in the second half, the Paris Saint-Germain forward showcased his goal-scoring prowess, securing the crucial goal seven minutes before the final whistle, effectively nullifying Andreas Weimann's earlier strike for the home team. Despite their valiant effort, the world champions find themselves at the bottom of Group A1, accumulating two points from three games, trailing four points behind the group leaders, Denmark, who endured a 1-0 defeat at home against Croatia.

In an exhilarating display of football prowess, Les Bleus initiated the action-packed match with a near-miss in the 18th minute as Patrick Pentz's impressive goalkeeping thwarted Karim Benzema's header, which was set up by Antoine Griezmann's deflected free-kick. However, it was Austria who drew first blood, with the seasoned forward Weimann converting Konrad Laimer's cross to claim his inaugural international goal.

Photo: Vlad Indrei

As the first half drew to a close, France sought to level the playing field, yet Pentz continued to showcase his goalkeeping finesse by parrying away a well-crafted curling shot from Benzema. The French side persisted in their offensive maneuvers during the second half, with Pentz thwarting both Benjamin Pavard and Kingsley Coman, thwarting their attempts to find the back of the net.

A strategic substitution by Deschamps saw Griezmann replaced by Mbappé, injecting renewed vigor into the French attack. Mbappé's precision and agility paid off as he clinched the equalizer, receiving a short pass from Christopher Nkunku before calmly slotting the ball past Pentz from within the penalty area. The young forward's relentless pursuit of a second goal nearly paid off moments later, only for Pentz's timely deflection off the bar to deny him, following a slick one-two exchange with Benzema.

In another gripping encounter, Croatia revived their bid for the top spot in the group with an impressive victory over Denmark in Copenhagen. Mario Pasalic's decisive second-half strike, orchestrated by a strategic play from Luka Modric off the bench, saw the ball smoothly pass through Kasper Schmeichel's legs, sealing the fate of the Danish team.

Despite Denmark's valiant efforts, two disallowed goals hindered their aspirations for victory. The first disallowed goal, involving Andreas Cornelius, was ruled out due to a foul committed by Joakim Mæhle during the buildup, shortly before the half-time whistle. The second disallowed goal, believed to be an equalizer by Jonas Wind, was deemed offside following a VAR review, leaving the hosts in disappointment.

Looking ahead, Denmark is poised to host Austria in an upcoming clash, with the victor poised to seize the top spot in the group as the teams head into the summer break. The gripping encounters and intense competition in the group stage have set the stage for a thrilling continuation of the tournament, leaving football enthusiasts eager for more exhilarating action on the field.