Austria’s Maximilian Wöber fell victim to the goal threat from France’s Kylian Mbappé (l.) with his own goal.
Photo: imago/Manuel Blondeau
Uefa’s technical observers couldn’t help themselves: N’Golo Kanté was voted player of the game between Austria and France. And not Kylian Mbappé. Football workers instead of star strikers. Sometimes nice too. By far the most noticeable player in Düsseldorf was Mbappé: And that’s a very good sign. The 25-year-old Frenchman has here and there been mistakenly accused of having done a good deed at this European Championship.
Didier Deschamps had the last word on Monday evening. When France’s coach spoke of the “low point” in front of the assembled press, it was about his captain: “He’s not feeling well.” Shortly before, Kylian Mbappé had been taken to the Düsseldorf University Hospital with a mask on his face after he had suffered a cold in the final phase of the game The Austrian Kevin Danso broke his nose in a game on the shoulder. After a break in treatment, he made one last signal for his team, covered in blood: because the Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano inexplicably did not fulfill the request for a substitution that had long been signaled, he entered the field again and then sat down on the grass. Mbappé correctly saw yellow for this and later did not receive the award for player of the game. But he acted as a leader, after all France was still only leading 1-0. It should stay that way.
This deserved victory against fighting and strong running, but ultimately too harmless Austrians will be in the Group D all the more important if the captain is unable to play against the Netherlands next Friday. Because Mbappé was involved in almost all dangerous situations. He himself failed twice from a promising position. He started the decisive dribble in the 38th minute, and his following cross led to Maximilian Wöber’s own goal.
However, this victory is worth a lot more than the three points in the table. Because Mbappé said on Sunday that there were things that were much more important than this game. These sentences followed: “I now want to speak to the young generation in our country: We see that the extremes are knocking on the door of power. This is an important moment in our country’s history. We have the opportunity to shape the future of our country. I call on all young people to go to the polls.” They should cast their votes on June 30th and July 7th, when the new elections for the National Assembly scheduled by Emmanuel Macron are due. France’s president again felt compelled to do this after the ultra-right Rassemblement National became the strongest party in the European elections with more than 31 percent.
Mbappé’s words quickly became headlines everywhere. The content-related debate, especially in the German media, was limited to the comparison with the DFB team in Qatar and the associated question of whether this would be helpful – in terms of sport, at this European Championship. In response, a quote from the star striker: “You have to separate what is important and what is not.” France’s victory, led in the best possible way by the captain, was helpful in separating the issue from the small-mindedness of sports journalists: So yes, a footballer too may and may have an opinion on other topics and express it at any time. The victory was important with a view to those that Mbappé wants to achieve: the global star is a role model, hero and idol for countless young people, and not just in France. After all, he will be storming for Real Madrid next season. For all his fans, he followed up his words with actions: Victory against the right was the motto after the game in the Düsseldorf Arena.
The reference to the World Cup in Qatar sounds obvious, but is wrong. A cheap excuse and, for some, a welcome interpretation was that the DFB team had not focused on the essentials because of their protest. However, the elimination in the preliminary round was just a continuation of the negative sporting development of the German national team in previous years. The pressure to perhaps have to take a position has been built up by the DFB in particular, along with a number of politicians. But his big announcements, emphatically pointing out the problems in the emirate to the hosts and FIFA, were followed by an almost pathetic cave-in. Because the DFB was not prepared to accept the consequences – from a sporting, sports policy and, above all, financial perspective. And nothing has remained of the promises made by many to continue pushing for improvements after the tournament in Qatar.
France’s football association “supports the necessary call for votes” and grants the players “freedom of expression,” as he announced. Marcus Thuram and Ousmane Dembélé also made similar statements to Mbappé. At the same time, the association also wants to “avoid any form of pressure and political exploitation of the French team.” But because, unlike the World Cup in Qatar, it is his own country, he is also taking action himself. As the daily newspaper “Le Parisien” has learned, at least 40 members of the French European Championship delegation want to cast their votes in the election, which will take place during the tournament. Because postal voting is not possible for the short-term vote, an authorized representative must do this on site.
Tuesday began with good news for the French team: Mbappé does not need surgery. The captain is back in the Paderborn training camp, and a special mask should also arrive there soon. A cheering Mbappé with a mask would also be a lasting image. After all, France finally wants to become European champions again after 24 years. Superlatives and the like are often misused in sport. Back in 2018, when the then 19-year-old striker delighted the football world by winning the World Cup in Russia, the motto was: “Liberté, egalité, Mbappé!” Now it sounds much more accurate.
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