France secured an unconvincing 1-0 victory vs. Austria on Monday and two moments really stood out. One was an unusual Kylian Mbappé miss and the other was an even more shocking Landon Donovan hair on air.
Monday’s game was Donovan and broadcast partner Ian Darke’s third game in charge of this Euros. Fans hardly, if at all, got to see the two men in the broadcast booth during the first games. They were on the screen on Monday and good goly Donovan’s hair was something.
Landon Donovan hair during Euros broadcast
Landon Donovan let it go buddy… pic.twitter.com/p63Z3lxgD7
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) June 17, 2024
What’s going on here? pic.twitter.com/sjQyBBVed5
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) June 17, 2024
We’re not sure if this Donovan hairstyle is from balding or something else, but man does it look rough. Perhaps it’s time for the 42-year-old to pull a Michael Bradley and go bald.
The other big talking point from Monday’s Group D matchup was an uncharacteristic miss from France superstar Mbappé. In the 55th minute Mbappé outpaced Austria’s backline and looked destined to extend France’s lead to 2-0.
If you were to freezeframe right before he shoots you would bet your house he’d score. Mbappé scores a chance like those 99 times out of 100, with Monday being the one exception.
Mbappé miss vs Austria
Oh noooo, Mbappé
He's gonna be thinking about this one for a while pic.twitter.com/iUJzNapYNa— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2024
How did Mbappé miss this one? pic.twitter.com/lik8SKi9oz
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2024
France’s lone goal came from an Mbappé cross that turned disastrous for Austria as Maximilian Wöber headed the ball into his own net.
France will take it ♂️
Les Bleus take the lead off an own goal pic.twitter.com/fdCSwE3NZv— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2024
The result was a shame for Austria who held their own against the Euro 2024 favorites. Their best chance came in the 36th minute when Christoph Baumgartner had a golden opportunity to level the game but was denied by Mike Maignan.
Austria was so close to opening up the scoring vs France here pic.twitter.com/IeKCeFtZFZ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2024
The night ended on a sour note for Mbappé with a gruesome-looking nose injury late in the game. The new Real Madrid signing rose for a header but connected with the shoulder of a defender rather than the ball.
Ouch
Mbappé had to be treated on the field after this contact pic.twitter.com/bFfzYfPvsu— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2024
He had to be taken out of the game, down the tunnel and was heavily bleeding from his nose. Fans worry he could've broken his nose.
France’s next opponent will be Netherlands on Friday while Austria will face Poland on Friday, too.
