DORTMUND, Germany- - As France struggled again to turn chances into goals at Euro 2024 in a 1-1 draw with Poland on Tuesday, a frustrated Kylian Mbappe ran over for an exchange with Didier Deschamps, pointing animatedly to different corners of the pitch. The first-half debate between captain and coach summed up the challenge for France who have found the back of the net only twice in three games at the tournament: once from an own goal against Austria and a penalty scored by Mbappe against Poland. The draw - which means France finished second in Group D, the first time in Deschamps' 12 years in charge that they have not topped a group stage pool - will do little to settle the unease among fans at their team's lack of goals. As in previous matches in Germany, France looked dangerous with wingers Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola - making his first start in the national team as Deschamps reworked his attack - offering lots of threat. Mbappe, back from sitting out the 0-0 draw with the Netherlands, seemed uninhibited by the mask he wore to protect the broken nose that he suffered in the 1-0 opening win over Austria, powering his way past defenders with ease. The Real Madrid-bound striker showed signs of working well with Barcola before breaking the deadlock to score his 48th goal in 81 appearances for France, but his first at a European Championship, from the penalty spot in the 56th minute. In a sign of how France's dominance, their 55 touches in their opponents' penalty box were more than any team in a match so far in Germany, according to Opta. Deschamps turned to experienced forwards Antoine Griezmann, who he had dropped to the bench, and Olivier Giroud in an attempt to put the match beyond doubt. But it was Poland's veteran captain Robert Lewandowski who scored the game's only other goal, also scoring from the spot with a re-taken penalty. Deschamps was left to express his frustration once again at France's lack of ruthlessness. "We have to accept it, even if we did what we did by creating the chances," he said. "At least we’re qualified and we know when we’ll play. A new competition will start. We’re not going to live with regrets. We could have been more efficient, we were not able to double our advantage." France now face the runners-up in Group F, a spot currently occupied by Turkey and which they can secure with a draw against Czech Republic on Wednesday. Turkey have conceded four goals in their two Euro 2024 matches so far, offering hope for Deschamps and his misfiring team that they can rediscover their scoring touch.

 LEIPZIG, Germany-- Mattia Zaccagni curled home a 98th minute equaliser as defending champions Italy booked a last-16 spot at Euro 2024 on Monday with a 1-1 draw against Croatia, whose tournament hopes were left hanging by a thread, and will next face Switzerland.

 BERLIN-- Hoary old cliche it may be but in the final analysis the simple truth is that the irrepressible, irresistible Austrians wanted it more than the Dutch in their final Euro 2024 Group D clash. Maybe the fact the Netherlands were already guaranteed a last-16 place spiked their guns, or perhaps there was nothing they could do to repel the industry and energy of the Austrians. Either way, the men from the mountains towered over their opponents from the low countries by the end of a sizzling 3-2 victory at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. "When you win like that, win the group, score the winning goal, it doesn't get any better than that," said Austria's man-of-the match Marcel Sabitzer. "Now we need to calm down, clear our heads and then keep attacking." The die had seemed cast from the kick off. Well set up, disciplined, and with a measured plan to execute, the Austrians instantly set about their task with furious energy as soon as the whistle blew. While the Netherlands were a team of step overs, fancy flicks, jinks and arms thrown up in frustration, the men in white buckled down to the job in hand - namely clearing their lines, maintaining their shape and employing a great high press and strong, physical tactics to snuff out Dutch inspiration whenever it threatened to momentarily catch light. Austria's approach was rewarded almost before either bench had a chance to get comfortable, pressing Dutch rightwinger Donyell Malen to scythe the ball past his own goalkeeper after only five minutes. If red-faced Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was sanguine in appearance, his demeanour suggested he was far less so in outlook, and he appeared to seethe on the touchline. The last time the Oranje played at a Euros in this neck of the woods, they emerged champions in West Germany. Koeman was among the heroes who won the final 36 years ago to the day. How, on a balmy evening in Berlin, he must have yearned for the majesty of a Ruud Gullit or menace of a Marco van Basten. Mercurial to the point of confusing themselves at times, the Dutch lacked purpose, with their lead striker Memphis Depay drifting in and out of the game in the early stages, at times looking more like an NBA player in his white headband than a striker closing in on the Dutch all-time scoring record. BETTER SIDE The Austrians looked, and were, the better side. Pressing and never allowing the Dutch to settle on the ball, they went in at the break comfortably in the ascendancy. But blink and it was gone. Whatever words of wisdom Koeman conjured from his increasing incandescence at halftime clearly worked and within minutes of the kick off a momentary lapse saw the Austrians dispossessed in their own half. Given a glimpse of the hare, the Dutch were off on the breakaway and Cody Gakpo made no mistake, curling the ball home, levelling the scores and reigniting an orange wall of fans who had been muted for the first 45 minutes. But even then the goal seemed little more than a solitary finger stuck in a dike the Austrians were determined to breach. When a powerful Romano Schmid header flew past Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen it sparked a deafening roar from the red end as the sun started to dip below the stadium roof. An all-too brief glimpse of Depay magic dragged the Dutch level again in the 75th minute with a goal that was viewed from every conceivable angle by VAR before being awarded and a scoreline which flattered them. Not for long, though, as Austria’s army of fans were sent into delirium when a Sabitzer howitzer flew into the roof of the net with 10 minutes remaining to seal a famous victory and leave Austria top of Group D. France finished second after a 1-1 draw with Poland and the Netherlands qualified for the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed finishers. While the Austrians were left to contemplate a job superbly executed, the Dutch have some thinking to do. “We are all responsible for this," Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dyke said. "If we want to achieve anything in this tournament, something has to change."

LEIPZIG, Germany-- France and the Netherlands played it safe in a 0-0 draw that failed to explode into life in Group D at Euro 2024 on Friday, leaving both sides within sight of a place in the last 16 and eliminating Poland. With France captain Kylian Mbappe remaining on the bench after suffering a broken nose in their opener, the game sparked only in fits and starts, without ever threatening to turn into a classic. Both sides squandered chances and had periods of control, but neither could find a breakthrough and eased off the throttle in the second half, seemingly content to claim a point. The one moment of drama after the break came when Dutchman Xavi Simons had the ball in the net but it was disallowed because Denzel Dumfries, standing offside next to keeper Mike Maignan, was penalised with the decision confirmed by VAR after a lengthy review. The decision infuriated the Dutch fans crammed behind that goal and a stream of objects were hurled onto the pitch. “The position of Dumfries is offside, that's true. But he isn't disturbing the goalkeeper. And when that does not happen, then it's a legal goal in my opinion,” Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman said. “Did they need five minutes to check it because it's so difficult? I don't understand this." GROUP OPEN The result leaves the group open, although with four points in the bag both France and the Netherlands will think they have most likely done enough to reach the last 16. France next face Poland, who have no points and are the first side to be eliminated after losing 3-1 to Austria earlier on Friday, while the Netherlands meet the Austrians, who have three points, also on Tuesday. The saga around Mbappe's selection dominated the build-up, with his appearance at training on Thursday wearing a tricolore mask seen as a sure sign he was set for inclusion. It would have come as some relief therefore to Koeman when the team sheets dropped and Mbappe, who had four goals in his previous two games against the Dutch, was left on the bench. France manager Didier Deschamps decided not to risk his prized asset but his side, who have scored one goal in their opening two games, clearly missed their captain. "We did a lot of things, but unfortunately we didn't manage to find the back of the net," Deschamps said. "So, again, the only regret I have, regarding the number of chances we saw, is the fact that we didn't win," he added. Chances Missed The first half was at times frenetic, with the Dutch going close within the first minute as Jeremie Frimpong's effort was tipped around the post by Maignan before Antoine Griezmann had an early shot palmed over at the other end. France should have taken the lead minutes later when Adrien Rabiot was played through on goal but inexplicably chose to pass to Griezmann, who was so stunned by his generosity that he miscontrolled, stumbled and lost possession. With Mbappe out of the picture, Griezmann slotted into the role as France's main man, firing another chance wide and heading straight at keeper Bart Verbruggen from a Rabiot cross. By contrast, the Netherlands seemed to lack a real threat, with most of their attacks petering out with all their forwards guilty of failing to find a telling pass when the penalty area honed into view. As the second half progressed, France increased the tempo with Marcus Thuram flashing a shot wide on the hour, Aurelien Tchouameni heading over and an off-balance Griezmann again thwarted by Verbruggen from close range. The Dutch thought they had finally broken the deadlock when Simons flashed a shot into the net only for the celebrations to be halted by the linesman's flag and dashed by VAR. With the four best third-placed finishers making it through to the last 16, the draw suited both sides, and the lack of jeopardy sucked some of the life out of the encounter as the game edged towards a stalemate.