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regular-article-logo Saturday, 23 November 2024

Euro 2020: Hungary holds France to a 1-1 draw

The French had three gilt-edged chances in the first half which their much-vaunted attack would have been expected to finish

Reuters Budapest Published 20.06.21, 03:02 AM
Antoine Griezmann.

Antoine Griezmann. File photo

Antoine Griezmann rescued a point for France as they came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with hosts Hungary in Group F and prevent a massive upset in front of a full house at the Puskas Arena on Saturday.

Attila Fiola had given the hosts a dream half-time lead, after France missed a bevy of early chances.

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But Griezmann equalised in the 66th minute to move France onto four points while Hungary kept up their slim hopes, on one point, in a group where they had been given little chance with heavyweights Germany and Portugal also in the mix.

A heaving, 65,000-strong, mainly Hungarian crowd, the likes of which has not been seen at football grounds since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, willed their side to a share of the points in the summer sun even if they were largely outplayed.

Griezmann finished with a powerful shot but at the end of an uncharacteristic move from the French, who for all their midfield guile and panache needed a Route One kick upfield from their goalkeeper to fashion their equaliser.

The French had three gilt-edged chances in the first half which their much-vaunted attack would have been expected to finish.

Peter Gulasci made a double save from Karim Benzema and Griezmann inside the opening quarter-hour and then watched in relief as Kylian Mbappe headed over the top from metres out after Benzema had teed him up in the 17th minute.

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