Kylian Mbappé and Robert Lewandowski struck second-half penalties as Les Bleus were forced to settle for runners-up spot in Group D.
Poland forward Robert Lewandowski levels from the spot
Kylian Mbappé is finally off the mark at EURO finals, converting a second-half spot kick, but Robert Lewandowski’s penalty and a tournament debut to remember for Łukasz Skorupski ensured eliminated Poland made their point. The result means France have to settle for second in Group D behind Austria.
Key moments
11′ Skorupski denies Dembélé on counter
34′ Lewandowski header flashes just wide
41′ Skorupski tips wide cute Mbappé effort
49′ Skorupski dives to deny Mbappé again
56′ Mbappé pen sends keeper wrong way
78′ Lewandowski levels from penalty spot
Match in brief: headline
After two defeats Poland may have been out but they were not down. For 45 minutes they were pretty much a match for their feted opponents. Fit-again Lewandowski gave them a focal point in attack, with 19-year-old Kacper Urbański his waspish foil and Piotr Zieliński driving the counterattack.
Something wasn’t quite clicking for Les Bleus, with their growing frustration palpable. Mbappé, back and wearing a mask to protect his broken nose, sought to kick-start them before the break but twice the excellent Skorupski, making his major finals debut aged 33, denied him.
Goalless at half-time and, with Austria beating the Netherlands, France were down to second in Group D. The interval was merely brief respite from the Mbappé barrage. It duly continued until, 11 minutes after the restart, Jakub Kiwior’s foul on Ousmane Dembélé gave him his chance from the spot.
Mbappé sent Skorupski the wrong way to finally get off the mark at a EURO finals but it was Lewandowski who had the last word. A foul by Dayot Upamecano gave the veteran his chance and though Mike Maignan saved, he had encroached in doing so. Lewandowski calmly slotted in at the second attempt.
Poland exit with heads held high; France advance as Group D runners-up to a round of 16 tie in Düsseldorf on Monday.
Vivo Player of the Match: Łukasz Skorupski (Poland)
The Poland goalkeeper denied France with six excellent saves, and can take a lot of credit for the result. He was very calm under pressure, and displayed good leadership.
Alex Clementson, France reporter
Just when things looked like they were starting to click into gear, France were pegged back. Didier Deschamps’ men will be buoyed by their ability to create chances, but that’s been a theme in Germany; the knockout stages may not be so forgiving. It has not been attacking football at its swashbuckling best, but they’re through unbeaten.
Piotr Koźmiński, Poland reporter
Three games and out for Poland. However, this section was always going to be very difficult – the Netherlands finished third! – and nobody back home really expected the team to qualify. Ultimately, the biggest disappointment was the loss to Austria. Against the Netherlands and France, Poland showed courage and tried to play good football. The fans appreciate it.
Reaction
Łukasz Skorupski denies Kylian Mbappé
Key stats
- France have not won the final group match in any of the last nine major tournaments, since beating Togo 2-0 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup (D4 L5).
- France are through to the knockout stages for the seventh time in the last eight EUROs.
- Poland exit after three defeats, the first time they have failed to pick up a point in a EURO group stage.
- Lewandowski is only the third player to score in four successive EUROs (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024) after Luka Modrić and Cristiano Ronaldo (five).
- France are eight matches unbeaten in the EURO group stage under Deschamps (W4 D5).
- France are unbeaten in eight meetings with Poland in all competitions (W4 D5), dating back to 1982.
- N’Golo Kanté has never lost a match in regulation time at a major finals, his run of 18 games (W12 D6) a record for a European player.
- France had gone 446 minutes without conceding a goal before Lewandowski’s penalty.
- Antoine Griezmann came on to make his 33rd appearance in a major finals, surpassing Lilian Thuram’s France record.
Line-ups
France’s starting XI
France: Maignan; Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, T Hernández; Tchouameni (Fofana 81), Kanté (Griezmann 61), Rabiot (Camavinga 61); Dembélé (Kolo Muani 86), Mbappé, Barcola (Giroud 61)
Poland: Skorupski; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior; Moder, Zieliński; Frankowski, S Szymański (Świderski 68), Urbański, Zalewski (Skóraś 68); Lewandowski