Kylian Mbappé’s envisioned moment of triumph came to life as he jubilantly removed his black mask, celebrating before a sea of French supporters at the imposing Sudtribune. His second-half penalty briefly relieved France’s scoring woes, but by the match’s end, he cut a frustrated figure, adjusting his mask in the sticky heat. Despite Mbappé’s stellar performance as France’s standout player, their hopes were dashed by the return of Robert Lewandowski, who also converted from the spot to secure an unlikely point for Poland.
This pivotal goal reshaped the dynamics of Group D, pushing Austria ahead of France to claim the top spot.