On Friday, Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to score a late equalizer as France drew 1-1 with Austria in a Nations League match in Vienna. At the Ernst-Happel Stadium, Mbappe came in as a second-half substitute for Antoine Griezmann and raced through in a typical manner to equalize in the 83rd minute, cancelling out Andreas Weimann’s goal. The loss means France, which won the Nations League last season, is yet to win in three games this season.
After losing 2-1 at home to Denmark last weekend and then drawing 1-1 in Croatia on Monday, they are now bottom of League A, Group 1, with two points.
Despite losing 1-0 at home to Croatia in Copenhagen on Friday, the Danes remain in first place in the group, with Mario Pasalic scoring the game’s lone goal halfway through the second half.
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Before the group competition closes in September, France will play their last match of the June international break at home against Croatia on Monday.
“There is no reason to be concerned. We should always be proud of ourselves and strive to develop, “Mbappe stated TF1 before confessing that he was still recovering from the injury that caused him to sit out the match against Denmark.
“No, but I’ll be there if the coach needs me. There’s just one game left before the holidays, so I’ll try to cram it in.”
Despite concerns about a big hole that built up on the same surface during Austria’s 2-1 defeat to Denmark on Monday, the match in Vienna went ahead.
Austria grabbed the lead eight minutes before halftime in their third game under new coach Ralf Rangnick when Konrad Laimer’s low pass from the right was finished by Bristol City forward Weimann.
In the 63rd minute, France coach Didier Deschamps substituted Mbappe for Griezmann, and 11 minutes later, RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku came in for Kingsley Coman as they pushed for a draw.
Mbappe had not played against Croatia since being substituted at halftime against Denmark due to a knee injury, but he was fit enough to make the difference for the visitors.
After a rapid exchange of passes with Nkunku, the Paris Saint-Germain forward broke through to score his 10th goal for his nation this season, firing past goalkeeper Patrick Pentz.
Mbappe had a chance to win the game three minutes later, but the goalie deflected his close-range attempt into the crossbar.
