Let’s sum up the France vs. Belgium Euro Cup 2024 Match on 1st July, 2024.
Kylian Mbappe was seen adjusting his mask several times during France’s last-16 match against Belgium, indicating his discomfort with it.
However, Mbappe wasn’t the only forward facing challenges, as France struggled to score once again. An own goal by Jan Vertonghen in the 85th minute, deflecting off Randal Kolo Muani’s shot, secured Les Bleus’ place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
This brought their total to three goals in the tournament, none of which came from open play by their players.
Despite having 19 shots against Belgium, only two were on target, and a stroke of luck was needed for their advancement.
Concerns about France’s goal-scoring ability have been frequently mentioned in press conferences during the tournament. Nonetheless, coach Didier Deschamps defended his team’s attacking performance amid criticism.
“Whether it’s a deflected goal or an own goal, someone had to take the shot,” Deschamps remarked. “The ball ended up in the back of the net.”
Goal statistics paint a concerning picture
Football, at its core, is entertainment, and scoring goals is a crucial aspect of that.
One France fan expressed frustration before Monday’s match in Dusseldorf, describing the team’s play as boring. The statistics seem to support his view.
Among the remaining teams, France has the fewest goals, with just three. In contrast, hosts Germany have scored ten, showing strong momentum.
France’s three goals in the tournament came from an Austria own goal in their first match, an Mbappe penalty against Poland, and Vertonghen’s own goal against Belgium.
While Deschamps didn’t see this as a major issue, he acknowledged the need for improvement.
“We have the ability to score more,” he said. “It’s been challenging for us since the start of the Euros, but we’ve had opportunities. We need to ensure things go our way and not let it become a psychological barrier.”
France might have benefitted from facing a Belgian side that was overly cautious. As the competition progresses, facing more confident opponents, France’s attackers will need to step up.
Mbappe needs to adjust to the mask – he might be wearing it for several months
Deschamps has experimented with various tactics to spark his forward line, from benching Antoine Griezmann to adjusting the formation.
However, the 55-year-old coach recognizes that helping Mbappe adapt to wearing a protective mask for his broken nose could be crucial.
The soon-to-be Real Madrid striker has an impressive record, scoring 48 goals in 82 appearances for France and 256 goals in 308 appearances for Paris St-Germain.
In the match against Belgium, Mbappe’s movement was promising, creating space effectively, but his finishing was off, with shots often soaring over the goal instead of finding the net.
“He is getting used to it,” Deschamps emphasized.
“Sweating can still bother him. It can get in the eyes. But it’s complicated for his vision, it’s 10ths of a second, but it’s important.
“He’s going to have to get used to it because he might wear it for a few weeks or even a few months.”
France is hoping that Mbappe will quickly become more comfortable with the mask to ensure they are at their best when the quarter-finals begin.