Football

Reaction to France's 1-0 win over Austria at Euro 2024

DUESSELDORF, Germany: The following is reaction to France's 1-0 victory over Austria in Euro 2024 Group D on Monday, with Max Wober scoring an own goal in the 38th minute.

France manager Didier Deschamps: "Happy with what the players did even if we missed opportunities to double the tally. It was not perfect but we were solid. We could have been more efficient offensively but it's good to start with a win.

"There's quality and talent but being solid and working together is also important. We're not going to be over-confident, but it's a good start."

Deschamps on captain Kylian Mbappe's suspected broken nose: "(His) nose is not good at all. Even if it's just the nose, it's the big negative point for us tonight."

France midfielder and man of the match N'Golo Kante: "It starts well. Everything was not perfect but we have the result we wanted, this is a good start. There are solid foundations, we have to be more efficient.

"It makes me happy to be back. Things have changed, makes it feels good to get back into this jersey."

France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga on Kante: "Phenomenal, brutal. Incredible. But he is not 100 per cent yet."

Austria manager Ralf Rangnick: "We are all very disappointed ... we allowed France to go ahead, they didn't shoot their goal, it was an unlucky own goal by us.

"I think the decisive scene was two moments earlier when we had a huge chance to go 1-0 up. It was a glaring mistake by the referee not to award a corner ... I think he was the only person in the stadium who thought it was a goal kick.

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

"I think no one can accuse the team of not being engaged enough, not running enough. They gave their everything. They didn't always make the right decisions with the ball. But it isn't easy, the French were aggressive, played compactly and that wasn't a surprise."

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