Kylian Mbappe salvages draw for France in Austria

• France and Austria settled for a 1-1 Nations League draw in Vienna on Friday.
• They have two points and are in last place in League A, Group 1.
• Mbappe did not play against Croatia after leaving with a knee injury at halftime against Denmark.

Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to score a late equalizer as France and Austria settled for a 1-1 Nations League draw in Vienna on Friday.

Mbappe came on as a second-half substitute for Antoine Griezmann at Ernst-Happel Stadium and scored the equalizer in trademark fashion to cancel out Andreas Weimann’s first-half goal.

Read more: Jesus Ferreira scores 4 as USA beats Grenada in Nations League opener

France, who won last year’s edition of the Nations League, remains winless after three games of the current campaign.

They have two points and are in last place in League A, Group 1 after losing 2-1 at home to Denmark last weekend and drew 1-1 at Croatia on Monday.

The Danes are still in first place in their group after losing 1-0 to Croatia in Copenhagen on Friday. Mario Pasalic scored the game’s only goal in the second half.

France will host Croatia on the final day of the June international break before the conclusion of the group stage in September.

Read more: England beaten in Hungary, Italy hold Germany in Nations League

“There is never any need to worry. We should always be proud and just try to improve,” Mbappe told broadcaster TF1 before admitting that he had still not fully recovered from the injury that forced him off against Denmark.

“No but if the coach needs me I will be there. There is just one game left before the holidays so I can force it a little bit.”

On Monday, during Austria’s 2-1 loss to Denmark, a large hole appeared on the same surface, causing anxiety for the match in Vienna.

Austria, in their third game under new coach Ralf Rangnick, seized the lead eight minutes before halftime when Bristol City striker Weimann finished a low cross from the right by Konrad Laimer.

Didier Deschamps substituted Mbappe for Griezmann in the 63rd minute, and 11 minutes later, RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku replaced Kingsley Coman in an effort to find an equaliser.

Read more: France get ready for World Cup by shielding Nations League crown

Mbappe did not play against Croatia after leaving with a knee injury at halftime against Denmark, and he was the difference-maker for the visitors.

The Paris Saint-Germain player scored his 10th goal for his country this season after a rapid exchange of passes with Nkunku.

Mbappe might have won the game with three minutes remaining, but the goalie deflected his close-range attempt over the crossbar.