World Cup runners-up France failed to top Group D at Euro 2024, after dropping two points against Poland.
Austria’s 3-2 win over the Netherlands sees “Les Bleus" advance to the knockouts in second place.
Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock from the penalty spot early in the second half with his first goal at a European Championships.
However, Poland’s own talisman Robert Lewandowski matched the new Real Madrid star at the other end of pitch, levelling the scores from a retaken spot kick.
But how did the players fare for each side?
France
Mike Maignan - 6/10
The AC Milan shot-stopper had to make a couple of saves in the first half to keep Poland out. It was a near flawless game from the ‘keeper, but his one flaw cost his team the three points.
Harsh, it may be, but his encroachment allowed Lewandowski a second bite at the cherry to salvage a point for the Poles.
Jules Koundé - 6/10
Quietly went about his business. Retained possession fairly well but offered little in the offence.
Dayot Upamecano - 6/10
Like Maignan, the Bayern Munich man had a really solid match but ultimately cost his side the points with a clumsy challenge on Swiderski.
William Saliba - 7/10
A star for Arsenal over the past couple of seasons, Saliba delivered another impressive display for his country, making some big blocks and clearances.
Theo Hernández - 7/10
The AC Milan star marauded up and down the left flank to great effect. Meanwhile, no danger really came down his side.
N’Golo Kanté - 6/10
Kanté carried the ball with real class at times and his linkup play was strong for the most part. A few frustrating stray passes and a quiet second half blemished an otherwise solid performance.
Aurélien Tchouaméni - 6/10
Struggled to impact the game from that deep midfield role. Looked a little nervy at times.
Adrien Rabiot - 5/10
You would be forgiven for not noticing Adrien Rabiot. The Juventus man was completely ineffective in the French midfield, offering nothing in either direction.
Didn’t occupy the pockets usually locked down by Antoine Griezmann.
Ousmane Dembélé - 8/10
Dembélé showed glimpses of his ability in the first half but a quality end product evaded him. However, in the second half, he really came to life.
Playing at his old stomping ground, the winger gave Jakub Kiwior a torrid time and almost always made the right decision, winning the penalty too.
Kylian Mbappé - 8/10
Mask-clad, Mbappé was a thorn in Poland’s side, trying to force the issue, making dangerous runs and linking up attacks. Some of his touches were of the highest quality and he was certainly deserving of that goal.
Bradley Barcola - 7/10
While not providing a real goal threat, the PSG starlet fitted seamlessly into the French attack, with some real touches of quality, most notably to create a chance for Mbappé in the first half.
Substitutes
Eduardo Camavinga - 5/10
A little uncharacteristically sloppy on the ball off the bench.
Antoine Griezmann - 5/10
Likewise, Griezmann had the chance to impact the game but didn’t display his usual quality.
Olivier Giroud - 5/10
Didn’t really succeed in giving the Poland defence something to think about.
Youssouf Fofana - N/A
Randal Kolo Muani - N/A
Didier Deschamps’ final substitutions weren’t on the pitch long enough to impact the game.
Poland
Lukasz Skorupski - 8/10
The Bologna ‘keeper made seven saves in total to keep out the French attacking firepower. Skorupski came in for the retiring Wojciech Szczesny and was a key reason why Michal Probierz’s side claimed their first and only point of the tournament.
Jan Bednarek - 7/10
A face that will be familiar to Premier League fans, Bednarek was crucial for Poland. The Southampton man threw himself in front of everything France threw at them and headed everything away.
Pawel Dawidowicz - 6/10
Similarly, Dawidowicz was very tidy on the ball and solid at the back. He was, however, fortunate to not concede a penalty at the death.
Jakub Kiwior - 4/10
Watching this display, you wouldn’t think Kiwior was a starter for stretches of the season in that excellent Arsenal side which finished as Premier League runners-up last month.
The defender didn’t seem sharp enough with or without the ball and really struggled to contain Dembélé, fouling the PSG man for Mbappé’s penalty.
Przemyslaw Frankowski - 6/10
A man who plays his football in France with Lens, Frankowski made several tackles in a spirited defensive display.
Jakub Moder - 7/10
The Brighton midfielder was industrious in the middle of the park and disciplined in his positioning.
Piotr Zielinski - 7/10
While not quite as influential as in previous games, Inter's new signing man continued to create for Poland and looked to cause France problems, drawing a save from Maignan early on.
Nicola Zalewski - 6/10
The Roma winger wasn’t too heavily involved and went in the book early on, but he was fairly tidy in his linkup play.
Sebastian Szymański - 7/10
Szymański worked hard and always looked to make things happen, winning a couple of fouls throughout.
Kacper Urbański - 7/10
Bologna’s teenager covered plenty of yards and was effective in Poland’s build-up play.
Robert Lewandowski - 8/10
Poland’s legendary marksman struggled to get into the game at first at a stadium very familiar to him, but he was always a threat in the final third.
He showed real quality at times with some of his touches, did his defensive work, and kept his nerve to dispatch the equalising penalty at the second time of asking.
Substitutes
Michal Skoras - 7/10
Skoras ran the hard yards off the bench, helping see out a hard-fought point.
Karol Świderski - 7/10
Similarly, Swiderski held up the play really well up front and drew the foul from Upamecano.
