Rangnick only gets a draw: Italy spoils Mbappé’s return despite a record goal

Rangnick only gets a draw
Italy spoils Mbappé’s return despite a record goal

06.09.2024, 22:42

Since this summer, France’s superstar Kylian Mbappé has been playing football in Spain, and now he is returning with the national team – and his return is extremely disappointing. Even a record goal cannot change that.

Despite a historic goal after just 13 seconds, vice world champions France started the new season of the Nations League with a defeat. France lost 1:3 (1:1) to the disappointing Italians at the European Championships in the Parc des Princes in Paris – and that despite Bradley Barcola scoring the fastest goal in French international history immediately after kick-off.

This was preceded by a mistake by Giovanni di Lorenzo, who hesitated too long when passing: Barcola won the ball and gave Gianluigi Donnarumma no chance. Federico Dimarco (30th) equalized, Davide Frattesi (51st) and Giacomo Raspadori (74th) scored the Italians’ other goals. France’s superstar Kylian Mbappé, who returned to France for the first time this season after moving to Real Madrid, was barely able to make an impact.

In the second match of the group, the Belgians, coached by German coach Domenico Tedesco, beat Israel 3-1 (1-1). Kevin De Bruyne (21st, 53rd/penalty) scored twice for Debrecen/Hungary. Youri Tielemans (48th) was also successful, while Leipzig’s Lois Openda (56th) missed another penalty.

Sandro Tonali celebrated his comeback for the Italians. The Newcastle United professional, who had been banned for illegal sports betting, was in Luciano Spalletti’s starting eleven – and he provided a great assist for Dimarco’s equaliser.

Rangnick only starts with a draw

Meanwhile, the Austrian national team coached by Ralf Rangnick only started the Nations League with a draw against Slovenia. In Ljubljana, the team, which was made up of Bundesliga players, could only manage a 1:1 (1:1) draw. Seven players from German clubs were in the starting eleven.

On the other hand, there is only one Bundesliga player in the squad, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. And he converted a penalty in the 16th minute after Mainz’s Phillipp Mwene had handled the ball. The full-back made up for his mistake by chipping the ball to Bayern’s Konrad Laimer to make it 1-1. New Mönchengladbach player Kevin Stöger made his international debut in the 82nd minute.

Previously, Norway and Kazakhstan, Austria’s other two group opponents, had drawn goalless. Superstar Erling Haaland was invisible for long stretches and also failed to hit the post in front of the quickly empty goal. Rangnick’s team will face Haaland, Martin Ödegaard and Co. in Norway on Monday from 8.45 p.m.