Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Euro: Narrow win for France; shock victories for Slovakia and Romania

France secured their 100th victory under manager Didier Deschamps with a 1-0 win over Austria in their opening Group D match at Euro 2024.

Euro: Narrow win for France; shock victories for Slovakia and Romania

France secured a narrow win over Austria despite losing Kylian Mbappe to a broken nose, Slovakia stunned Belgium with a 1-0 victory, and Romania triumphed over Ukraine in a 3-0 match at Euro 2024 on Monday.

France secured their 100th victory under manager Didier Deschamps with a 1-0 win over Austria in their opening Group D match at Euro 2024, but it came at a cost as Kylian Mbappe broke his nose.


An own goal by Austria defender Max Wober shortly before halftime secured the points, putting France level with the Netherlands, their next opponents on Friday.

Three years after their Euro 2020 exit to Switzerland, France showed signs of promise, particularly with the return of midfielder N'Golo Kante.

However, it was a mixed night for captain Mbappe, who missed several clear chances and was substituted late with blood oozing from his nose following an aerial clash.

He left the stadium in an ambulance for X-rays, and the French Football Federation confirmed his broken nose.

Deschamps said, "He's got a really bad nose. We'll have to wait and see. It's very bad news for us tonight."

Mbappe's contributions included a decisive dribble past three defenders to set up the cross that led to Wober's own goal.

Despite this, Mbappe missed a golden opportunity in the 54th minute, responding with a wry smile after guiding his shot wide.

Late in the match, he collided with Kevin Danso and required treatment before being substituted.

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick had promised a strong performance from his side, who pressed high and tackled relentlessly.

"All in all the French earned the win, but that we were chasing the equaliser throughout speaks for the performance of our team," Rangnick said.

Austria's best chance came when Christoph Baumgartner's shot was deflected wide by French keeper Mike Maignan.

In Group E, Slovakia delivered the first upset of the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Belgium.

Ivan Schranz scored Slovakia’s quickest goal at a major tournament, timing at six minutes and five seconds.

Belgium, under coach Domenico Tedesco, suffered their first loss in 16 games.

Romelu Lukaku had two goals disallowed and missed several clear-cut chances.

Belgium captain Kevin de Bruyne commented, "We deserved to win but did not score and that is the way it is."

Slovakia's disciplined defence, led by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, held firm despite Belgium's dominance.

Dubravka highlighted their resilience: "We worked hard and fought until the end. You need to be a little bit lucky in games like this and we were."

Slovakia joined Romania at the top of the standings after their 3-0 win over Ukraine earlier on Monday.

Romania's victory was marked by standout performances from Dennis Man, who was involved in all three goals.

Man capitalised on a poor clearance from Ukraine goalkeeper Andrey Lunin to set up Nicolae Stanciu for the opener.

Early in the second half, Man drove at the Ukrainian defence, leading to Razvan Marin's goal. For the third goal, Man showcased his skill by setting up Denis Dragus with a quick short pass.

Romania's solid defence, led by Radu Dragusin and Andrei Burca, thwarted Ukraine's attempts, including efforts by Mykhailo Mudryk and Artem Dovbyk.

Romania manager Edward Iordanescu praised his team's spirit and effort, saying they "fulfilled that pledge" to fight for every metre on the pitch.

These results highlight the unpredictable nature of Euro 2024, with strong performances and unexpected outcomes marking the early stages of the tournament.

(Reuters)

More For You

Campbell Wilson

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson steps down as Air India Express chair

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson steps down as Air India Express chair

AIR INDIA CEO Campbell Wilson is stepping down as chair of Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost subsidiary. He will be replaced by Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s chief commercial officer, according to an internal memo sent on Tuesday.

Wilson will also step down from the board of Air India Express. Basil Kwauk, Air India’s chief operating officer, will take his place.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harry and Meghan urge tougher safeguards to protect children online

Prince Harry criticised tech companies for citing privacy laws to deny access

Getty

Harry and Meghan urge tougher safeguards to protect children online

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have called for stronger protections for children online, warning that not enough is being done to shield young people from the dangers of social media

During a visit to New York, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle unveiled a new memorial dedicated to the memory of children whose families believe harmful online content contributed to their deaths. The installation, named the Lost Screen Memorial, features 50 smartphones, each displaying an image of a child lost to what their families describe as the adverse effects of social media. The memorial was made available to the public for 24 hours.

Keep ReadingShow less
Priyanka Chopra Teams Up with John Cena, Idris Elba in 'Heads of State'

An elite MI6 agent played by Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Getty

Priyanka Chopra fronts action thriller ‘Heads of State’ with John Cena, Idris Elba

A dynamic of action, comedy, and political misadventure is set to hit Prime Video this summer with the release of Heads of State. The newly launched trailer teases a fast-paced, explosive ride featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, John Cena, and Idris Elba in lead roles. The film is slated to premiere globally on 2 July 2025.

Directed by Ilya Naishuller, the filmmaker behind Hardcore Henry and Nobody, Heads of State is billed as a cross between Air Force One and Midnight Run. The film places mismatched world leaders at the centre of a chaotic crisis that forces them to work together, despite their egos and rivalries.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afghan exodus soars as Pakistan deadline nears

Afghan refugees arrive at a camp near the Torkham border last Sunday (20)

Afghan exodus soars as Pakistan deadline nears

MORE than 100,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the past three weeks, the interior ministry said on Tuesday (22), after Islamabad announced the cancellation of residence permits.

Calling Afghans “terrorists and criminals”, the Pakistan government launched its mass eviction campaign on April 1. Analysts said the expulsions are designed to pressure Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, which Islamabad blames for fuelling a rise in border attacks.

Keep ReadingShow less