FRANCE take on Poland this afternoon as Les Bleus look to secure top spot in Group D.
Kylian Mbappe has returned to the starting line-up after the French skipper was an unused sub against the Netherlands due to him breaking his nose during the Austria win last week.
Poland are already out of Euro 2024 but fans will be excited to see their star man Robert Lewandowski from the off this afternoon.
- Kick off time: 5pm BST
- TV channel: BBC One
- FREE live stream: BBC iPlayer
- France team: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Kante, Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola
- Poland team: Skorupski; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior; Frankowski, Slisz, Szymanski, Moder, Zalewski; Lewandowski, Zielinski
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France 0-0 Poland
7. Some great build up play sees Poland create their first chance of the game.
Lewandowski is involved with a brilliant lay-off that finally sees Zielinski strike a volley from outside the box.
Maignan does well to get down and save in the bottom corner of the goal.
France 0-0 Poland
5. France a patiently wating to find some gaps.
Barcola drops his shoulder and looks to get to the byline before trying to cut it back to a teammate.
It is blocked at the expense of a French corner.
France 0-0 Poland
3. Both sides are looking to close down their opponents in possession.
They are giving no time on the ball whatsoever.
Kounde wins a free out wide on the halfway line.
France 0-0 Poland
1. It is another packed house in Westfalenstadion today.
Poland are looking to keep the ball and make the French chase the ball early on.
Looking to thread a pass through to Lewandowski, it runs harmlessly through to Maignan.
Kick-off: France vs Poland
We are underway in Dortmund.
Les Bleus look to kick-start their Euro 2024.
Poland get the match started.
France hoping to keep records in tact
Les Bleus are now unbeaten in eight European Championship games under Didier Deschamps.
In those matches, they have won four and drawn four.
Ngolo Kante has never lost a game in regulation time at a major tournament (W12, D5).
Man in the mask returns
Kylian Mbappe will be hoping that he can be France’s superhero once again at the home of Borussia Dortmund today.
Wearing a mask to protect the nose he broke in the opening group fixture, he will be keen to not engage in the physcial element too much at the moment.
One thing is for sure, his pace and skill are enough to give any defence a torrid time.
Credit: Reuters Poles looking to turn back clock
The last time Poland beat France in competitive football was some 42 years ago.
That win came in the form of a 1982 World Cup third-placed play-off.
After two defeats in their opening group games, the Poles will be hoping they can upset the odds today at Westfalenstadion.
Les Bleus needing to find another gear
The only goal France have scored in Euro 2024 to date is thanks to a Max Wober own goal in their 1-0 win over Austria.
Against Netherlands, they struggled to create much in the way of clear-cut chances.
Les Bleus need to address this if they are to have any hope of clinching the trophy.
Deschamps looking to make it trois
France have previously won the Euros on two occasions.
Didier Deschamps will feel he has enough quality at his disposal to go all the way and get his hands on that trophy this time around.
The main aim for today is to try and usurp the goals scored by Netherlands so they finish top of Group D.
Fans ready for group finale
As we head towards the last round of fixtures in Group D, fans of both sides are in party atmosphere.
The weather is perfect for this showdown and stadium is already becoming a sea of colours.
Let’s hope the football lives up to the pre-match hype.
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Poland starting XI:
For their final game in Euro 2024, Polish fans will be pleased to see Robert Lewandowski back in the starting line-up.
12. Skorupski, 14. Kiwior, 3. Dawidowicz, 5. Bednarek, 21. Zalewski, 10. Zielinski, 8. Moder, 20. Symanski, 19. Frankowski, 26. Urbanski, 9. Lewandowski
Credit: @P_F_Almanac French starting XI:
The big news from the Les Bleus camp is that Kylian Mbappe starts in the final group game against Poland.
16. Maignan, 22. Hernandez, 17. Saliba, 4. Upamecano, 5. Kounde, 14. Rabiot, 8. Tchouameni, 13. Kante, 25. Barcola, 10. Mbappe, 11. Dembele
Credit: @equipedefrance VAR saves French unbeaten record
Netherlands fans, players and coaching staff were left fuming after they had a goal ruled out from a debatable VAR decision.
They felt Xavi Simons’ strike should have stood, which would have seen them inflict Les Bleus first defeat in Euro 2024.
France on the other hand, have the chance now to put that let off behind them and show the watching world why they are one of the favourites to take the trophy home.
Poles looking for more firepower
It has been a gruelling Euro 2024 if you are a Polish fan.
Almost a glimpse into the not so distant future as they struggle to score goals without Robert Lewandowski, who has been working his way back from an injury.
Michal Probierz will be hoping to utilise him today as Poland look to sign off from the tournament by upsetting the odds against the French.
Les Bleus looking to talisman
There is no doubting that Kylian Mbappe is the jewel in the crown of this French team.
Without his presence against Netherlands, they did not look as much of an attacking threat.
Having him back in the side today is integral as they look to cut the goal difference between themselves and Netherlands at the top of the group.
Legend hoping to sign off in style
Poland’s star striker has spoken about how he hopes their last game in Euro 2024 will pan out:
I hope we will play our best match of the tournament. Although we have only pride to play for, I hope we will play good football, create opportunities and score goals. We know we cannot fall apart even if things get tough. We need to have a plan and stick to it from start to finish regardless of the outcome.
Robert Lewandowski
Deschamps confident Mbappe is ready for action
The French manager addressed the elephant in the room with the media when it comes to their prized asset:
He is doing better today than yesterday and the day before that. That is obvious because he has been training. The bruising has come down and he is getting used to the mask. He is as eager to play tomorrow as he was eager to play against the Netherlands. He does not find that the mask limits him but it does restrict his vision a little. He needs to get used to it, even though the technology nowadays allows these masks to be as thin as possible.
Didier Deschamps
France with last chance to secure top-spot
Sitting second in the group heading into this game, Les Bleus trail the Netherlands on goal difference.
With Poland having already been eliminated, it seems the perfect match for Didier Deschamps side to go all out attack and try and rectify that.
As a result, this is no doubt why the French manager will be keen to get Mbappe back in his starting line-up for their final group game.
Welcome to France vs Poland
Les Bleus face already eliminated Poland in their final group game, hoping to usurp Netherlands for top spot in Group D.
France are likely to bring Kylian Mbappe back into the starting line-up today after he sat out their last game due to a broken nose he sustained against Austria.
While Deschamps took a cautious approach to his star striker in that game, he has taken part in a behind-closed-doors friendly in which he scored twice and produced two assists.
The manager will need to decide whether Aurelian Tchouameni or Adrien Rabiot make way in order to accommodate Mbappe’s return to the side.
It will be a tough choice for Deschamps as both players have been integral to Les Bleus in and out of possession but it is thought Rabiot will drop to a deeper position to partner Kante while Tchouameni has to settle for a place on the bench.
As for Poland, they have concerns about centre-back Bartosz Salamon due to an ankle injury that forced him to miss the defeat against Austria.
Given that this is likely to be his last chance to don the Poland shirt in a major tournament, it is expected that Robert Lewandowski will be reinstated to the team for this one.
The Poles have nothing to play in this game apart from personal pride but they will certainly want to put in a good shift against France to help Lewandowski sign off on a positive note from his illustrious international career.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
