Euro 2024: Austria beats Netherlands 3-2 to finish top of Group D; France held by Poland finishes 2nd

Austria pulled off a 3-2 upset of the Netherlands on Tuesday and topped Group D while France were held to a 1-1 draw against Poland and finished the group as the second-placed team.

The Dutch, meanwhile, will now have to depend on the other remaining matches to see if they can qualify among the best 3rds.

A Donyell Malen own goal gave Austria the lead in the first half, with the Oranje equalizing through Cody Gakpo in the 47th minute of the second half. The scores would remain tied for 12 minutes before Romano Schmid put Austria ahead in the 59th minute.

Memphis Depay would equalize the Netherlands in the 75th minute before Marcel Sabitzer crushed the Austrians 3-2, which remained the final result of the match.

Austria has 2 wins from 3 matches and one loss while the Netherlands have won one, drawn one and lost one in their 3 group stage matches.

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Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe opened his account in the tournament after scoring a penalty to give France the lead in the 56th minute after a first half ended goalless. Robert Lewandowski scored his own penalty in the 79th minute, ensuring France did not finish the group as winners.

Mbappe returned to France’s starting XI on Tuesday, eight days after suffering a broken nose. Mbappe, the France captain, will wear a protective mask for the close Group D match at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.

The Real Madrid striker suffered a broken nose in France’s 1-0 win over Austria on June 17 and was unused in Friday’s 0-0 draw with the Netherlands.

Mbappé has since featured in a behind-closed-doors match against a local youth team in Paderborn, home to France’s training base in Germany.

It was also the first time Mbappé had scored in a European Championship after failing to score in four matches of the 2021 tournament, neither against Austria.

First published online on: 25-06-2024 at 11:40 p.m. IST