The Paris SG striker came off the bench to offer a small point to the Blues with the help of Christopher Nkunku, another substitute, after a ride of which he has the secret (83rd, 1-1).

And he could even have offered victory to his people without a parade from the Austrian goalkeeper extended by the crossbar (87th).

French striker Kylian Mbappé equalizes (1-1) against Austria during their Nations League match on June 10, 2022 at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna FRANCK FIFE AFP

The young world champion allowed the French to return from Vienna with a little less wrung morale, even if the hope of retaining their title in the League of Nations appears thin.

With two points in three matches, the French are trampling in last place in their group behind Croatia (4 pts), victorious 1-0 in Denmark (6 pts) and tied on points with Austria.

It will be necessary to take care of the reception of the Croats, Monday at the Stade de France, to end at least on a good note this dismal June rally.

Certainly, there were players in Vienna on the floor, like N'Golo Kanté (knee) and Lucas Hernandez (muscle pain), or in bad training, like Adrien Rabiot and Mbappé.

But the series of three games without a win is not up to the standing of the world champions, who are particularly feverish in defense.

Faced with a series of matches of rare density, Didier Deschamps had once again rotated his workforce while renewing his tactical scheme with four defenders, tested at the 2018 World Cup but abandoned this season, an option already chosen last Monday in Croatia (1-1).

New hinge, inexperienced environment

The defensive air holes against Denmark (2-1 defeat) at the start of the training course, with an animation focused on the attack, had upset Deschamps and even his captain Hugo Lloris, who had campaigned on Thursday to "perhaps close the game", like "in the past".

Alas, the young guard lined up took on water, especially on the Austrian opener: Ibrahima Konaté, launched into the international deep end in Vienna, remained too passive, Theo Hernandez was not sharp enough in front of Konrad Laimer who crossed for striker Andreas Weimann (37th, 1-0), who started behind the inexperienced William Saliba.

Austrian striker Andreas Weimann (2nd d), congratulated by his teammates, after opening the scoring against France, during their Nations League match, June 10, 2022 at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna FRANCK FIFE AFP

The midfielder was also inexperienced with Aurélien Tchouaméni and Boubacar Kamara, both 22, and a total of less than seven selections on average between them.

For his first tenure, four days after his first international minutes, Kamara did not particularly shine, as if hampered by the challenge, despite some inspirations (deep pass for Coman in the 32nd).

And if the French attack is the envy of many other selections, with nuggets in spades, it has struggled to express all its talent in Austria, except for a few flashes.

Preserved in Croatia, Karim Benzema lit several wicks, from the head (18th) or from the feet (32nd, 51st), but without too much force or precision.

Moussa Diaby and Kingsley Coman had fire in the legs, but not immediately in the ideas.

And Antoine Griezmann stretched his bad pass before being replaced by Mbappé after an hour of play.

Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz deflects the ball taken from the head by French striker Karim Benzema, during their Nations League match, June 10, 2022 at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna FRANCK FIFE AFP

The PSG striker had not played for a week and his injury exit against Denmark.

Draft and without solution on his first balloons, he finally got up to speed before adjusting the sights.

But at the final whistle, the cries of joy mounted through the Ernst-Happel stadium proved that the draw looked more like a victory for the Austrians than a good point for the French.

© 2022 AFP