Football News: Kante Shines for France at Euro 2024 Opener
In a captivating display of midfield mastery, N’Golo Kante’s performance for France in their Euro 2024 opener against Austria left his teammates in awe. The former Chelsea star, who was selected in Les Bleus’ squad despite a long absence from international duty, repaid the faith of manager Didier Deschamps with a Player of the Match display in their 1-0 victory.
Kante, regarded as one of France’s all-time greats, rolled back the years with a commanding performance in the middle of the park. His tireless work rate, sharp passing, and decisive decision-making were on full display as he bossed the midfield from the opening whistle.
In a post-match video, Kante’s teammates could not hide their admiration for his exceptional display. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate exclaimed, “It’s mad, it’s mad!” while Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana added, “> Listen to me, listen to me carefully when I tell you, it’s not a myth. I saw it with my own eyes, I saw it. It’s mad!”
Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who was on commentary duty for ITV, hailed Kante’s performance, saying, “> He was brilliant, he’s got that vast experience. I think what he’s really good at as well obviously, we talk about breaking the play up, but it’s when he does the other bits as well. He’s sharp with his passing, he obviously covers the ground, we know that. His decision-making is excellent, but he’s neat and tidy with his passing. He loves a little one-two, he can pass it forward, he makes runs forward, he looked like a younger version of himself tonight.”
Kante’s heroics could prove crucial for France, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s availability for their next Group D clash against the Netherlands on Friday. Mbappe suffered a broken nose late in the match against Austria and will have to wear a protective mask for the remainder of the tournament.
talkSPORT will bring live commentary of every game at Euro 2024, so be sure to tune in as the action unfolds.
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