France faced a tough challenge against Austria but persevered to secure a win. Kylian Mbappe endured a broken nose amid Austria’s physical approach, and Maximilian Wober’s own goal decided the match in Les Bleus’ favor.

It wasn’t a dominant display by France, as Austria posed a threаt with their mix of toughness and relentless work off the ball. They could have been more dangerous if they focused more on playing rather than physical battles.

Didier Deschamps had joked that his players were handsome enough ahead of their opponents, but it seemed their opponents were more intent on disrupting their good looks in Dusseldorf.

Ralf Rangnick’s mеn sought to disrupt France’s rhythm, but despite an uncomfortable start, Les Bleus managed to find the breakthrough.

The match turned in the second minute when the soon-to-be Real Madrid star was treated to his first kiϲk of the evening – delivered by Bayer Munich’s Konrad Laimer.

Austria not only played aggressively but also challenged effectively, cutting down France’s fierce front line whenever the chance arose.

It was hard work – chances for the favorites weren’t flowing freely, but they weren’t completely shut down either.

William Saliba impressed defensively for France, and inside ten minutes, Mbappe had his first sniff of goal, brеaking quickly down the left and forcing Patrick Pentz, the Austria goalkeeper, to tip the ball wide.

Rangnick’s theory of stopping the French talisman, by starving him of service, was a sound one – but putting it into practice when faced with the Parisian can defy logic. The forward wanders around, picks his moments, and can be deadly when intervening.

Austria was making a decent fist of keeping him at bay on the left, but within moments of the No. 10 wandering over to the right, he had played a huge hand in the opener.

After a clearance fell to Ousmane Dembele, who was also tirelessly kicked, he handed it to his captain and watched him set off.

Mbappe strode past Philipp Mwene, already on a booking, with a quick step-over and change of pace, before cutting the ball back where a bewildered Wober headed it into his own net.

The fact that it came just two minutes after a gilt-edged chance for Austria – with Christoph Baumgartner denied by Mike Magno – made it all the more painful, especially as France were awarded a goal kiϲk despite the save.

Rangnick will have his complaints about the decision – but the fact his players were poorly disciplined should be of more concern.

Mbappe was forced off with a horror nose injᴜry and even when he returned to the pitch without permission, he was shown a yellow card.

But there was no sign of restraint after the break, as Antoine Griezmann was barged into the advertising boards by Wober within a minute of the restart, leaving him with a gash on his head.

Instead of winning fouls, Mbappe decided to start riding the challenges and should have made it two shortly after the restart.

After Adrien Rabiot lumped the ball forwards, Mbappe evaded Kevin Danso’s desperate lunge before exploding past Wober to go one-on-one. That appeared to be it, until he unaccountably bent the effort just wide.

The left off was enough – Rangnick withdrew Wober while also sending on Marko Arnautovic.

When Austria ditched the martial arts and started playing football, they looked a side who could cause problems, ballers and not just bruisers.

Their anger at Spanish ref, Jesus Gil Manzano, was increased when Marcel Sabitzer was smartly played into the box only to be barged down by William Saliba. Manzano waved away all penalty protests.

But even when they started playing pretty football there was still an edge, Baumgartner sliding to strike Laimer’s smart through ball only to plant his boot in his face.

Laimer then went back to roughing up Mbappe, planting a hard in his face as the winger looked to move into the box – it was soft but cynical.

Mbappe and the whole of France then really had something to worry about when their skipper bent his nose out of shape following a clаsh of heads with Danso. French hopes may rest on whether he can continue with a mask in the coming games.

He will not be the only Frenchman nursing bumps and bruises this morning.