Austria 0-1 France

Euro 2024/Group D/Round 1

MOTM: N’Golo Kante

Other standout performances include: Theo Hernandez and Nicolas Seiwald

Notable Stats:

• Olivier Giroud has now played in seven major tournaments for France, joining Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry and Hugo Lloris.

• Nicolas Seiwald made eight tackles against France, the most by an Austrian player in a match at a major tournament since Bernd Krauss in 1982.

• N’Golo Kante has played as many matches in two weeks with the French national team (3) as he did in the previous 35 months.

Match Stats:

• xG: 0.81 - 1.55

• xThreat: 1.3 - 1.36

• Possession: 51.5% - 48.5%

• Field Tilt: 52.1% - 47.9%

• Penalty Box Shots: 4 - 12

• Deep Completions: 8 - 8

• PPDA: 8.8 - 12.9

• High Turners: 5 - 2

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 16 - 13

Austria 0-1 France

Ball oriented pressing from Austria and coached by Ralf Rangnick. Force France to play down the sides and close off access to central spaces. Push the wingers deep and still have enough players in the middle to counter press.

The issue they found was the quality on the ball of France to by-pass their press and the space either side of the back three to exploit.

France struggles to get Griezmann into the game due to the press of Austria and you can see that in the passing map below. Brighter lines between the double pivot and central defenders. If France got out of their half it was mostly through the channels with Mbappe and Dembele.

Most of the turnovers from Austria happened in the middle third so it was great for them to win the ball but after that you still have to get past Kante and Saliba before you can create any dangerous chances.

Here is one instance where Austria won the ball higher up, this time into the final third and it led to a chance.

Theo Hernandez was arguably the best player for France alongside N’Golo Kante. Providing the threat down the left side and an outlet in the buildup. Using the relationship he has with Mbappe to get France out of the press from Austria.

The movement of Thuram off the ball split the two CBs and disrupted the back line for when France had their breaks into the Austrian half.

Here is just one example where France by-passed the press with Theo Hernandez, leading to a chance for Mbappe.

Here are his stats from the match.

Austria also had their moments breaking through France, into their half and getting into the space behind Dembele as Kounde tucks inside.

The get the ball out wide for a cross into the box.

Austria win the duel for the cross, flicking it on and end up missing the chance through on goal.

Austria kept a tight back line and overloaded the center for counter pressing opportunities. So in the second half we saw France break the Austrian counter press more effectively and attack the space left out wide.

Clearly Austria are coached very well but they lacked a difference maker in the final third to take advantage of those opportunities. Stifled France throughout the game, forced turnovers and made it difficult to progress the ball. All that only matters if you put the ball in the back of the net.

Corners is one final point to mention against France, you can get at their near post far too easily. The Netherlands should be targeting that with their central defenders.

Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

A game to forget for Belgium against Slovakia in front of goal but both teams should have positives to take away with their setups.

Here is how Belgium were shifting across out-of-possession to their left side to match Slovakia. Very aggressive approach early in the match.

The midfield of Slovakia was quite fluid and shifted across the pitch to get out of the Belgium press. Trossard curving his run and Carrasco jumps up. Lobotka and Kucha moving across to provide quick passes up the pitch.

Out-of-possession Slovakia set up like this and made it difficult for Belgium to move the ball between the lines, to find De Bruyne.

Trouble is once they got past that block it led to a number of dangerous chances like this one below when Belgium attacked the box but couldn’t find the net. Doku passing inside the box to De Bruyne after riding a couple challenges.

The goal by Slovakia comes from a mistake by Doku under pressure, trying to find the pass back inside.

Lukaku had a goal denied for offside as Belgium continued to push for an equalizer and created multiple chances.

This pass by Doku inside to Bakayoko which he misses is just one of those chances.

Belgium thought they had the late equalizer when Openda beat his man out wide left and passed inside the box to Lukaku. This time it was ruled out due to a handball by Openda in the lead up. Finishes with Slovakia winning and it’s a huge result for them in this group. Along with Romania winning. Leaving the group wide open.

Still there was a lot to be positive about with Belgium but they do need to make some tweaks. I’d like to see a midfielder alongside Onana that is comfortable playing higher up the pitch in-possession and capable building up under pressure. Openda was excellent off the bench and has been throughout last season with RB Leipzig. Bakayoko to come in on the right wing. I doubt that Lukaku get’s dropped but all of those players I think should be involved in the next game.

Romania 3-0 Ukraine

Romania kicked off the day and gave everyone a reminder that in International tournaments the fixtures you sleep on are often the most entertaining. Very compact OOP with their 4-1-4-1, dynamic on the counter attack and willing to take shots outside the box with the technical players they have. Against a Ukraine team that was happy to defend deep in their half, inviting those shots and letting the keeper get crowded.

A mistake from Lunin in the buildup kick started the Romanian party and they carried that momentum through the rest of the match.

Attempting to play out to Zinchenko under pressure from Dragus, it was intercepted by Man who finds Stanciu running across the box. Brilliant finish from outside the box.

Here you see how far wide the pass was and that Man did a great job to intercept.

Stanciu revives and scores from here.

Romania remained compact out of possession and sprung into a quick break for the second goal. Another outside the box goal this time from Marin.

Slightly fortunate with the ball falling in the right spot for but quite the finish across the goal to the bottom left corner.

The third goal was well worked from Romania for the corner routine playing it short but poor from Ukraine to concede this. Romania find it too easy to walk right into the box and shoot near post.

Lunin had a fantastic season individually for Real Madrid, stepping in for the injured Courtois but this was a game to forget from him.

Romania should be confident they can escape the group after a result like this and after Belgium lost to Slovakia it’s all to play for. Disappointing result for Ukraine given the amount of talented young players they have emerging.

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