Unfunny France is setting negative records. Even the infamous Greece was more offensive in 2004, but it didn’t have the same stars

Despite another unattractive performance, France advanced to the semifinals of the European Championship. It also broke an interesting record, certainly a positive one according to fans of defensive football. More is definitely expected from Kylian Mbappé and his teammates.

• France hardly confirms its role as one of the tournament’s biggest favourites
• They have yet to score a single goal from open play
• Even unpopular Greece scored more goals in 2004

The European Championship already knows the two semi-finalists. On Friday night, Spain clinched qualification with an extra-time win over Germany, while a few hours later France managed to beat Portugal on penalties in an uninspiring match.

Cristiano Ronaldo thus bids farewell to a great championship without scoring a goal. However, the stars from the Gallic cock country remain behind expectations. Kylian Mbappé is definitely not having the most successful championship, and Ousmane Dembélé and other aces in coach Didier Deschamps’ selection are not doing well either.

But that wouldn’t be so tragic. It can happen. But France are playing some really unattractive football given the players they have. One of the championship’s biggest favourites has reached the semi-finals as the first team in history yet to score a goal from open play.

The win against Austria was secured by an own goal from the opponent, the duel with the Netherlands ended 0:0, the draw with Poland (1:1) was secured by Mbappé from a penalty, Belgium was eliminated in the quarterfinals by an own goal and lost 0:1. The duel with Portugal ended goalless and was decided on penalties.

France is worse than Greece 20 years ago

Everybody is still complaining about how Greece played at Euro 2004, where, among other things, they knocked out the Czech Republic and won the championship. You can hardly find bigger concrete players. But France, with stars like Mbappé, Kanté, Griezmann, Giroud, Kolo-Muani, Camavinga, Thuram, Tchouaméni, Dembélé and Coman, managed to outdo the Greeks.

In the semi-final, Greece had two more goals scored than France have now. And at that time, they had not yet played the eight-finals, so they had played one less game. However, it is commendable that Deschamps’ charges have not even scored from open play. But that is where the positives end.

France is far beyond expectations. Ever since the eighth-finals began, France has been the team with the fewest goals scored to reach the semi-finals. Even in the era before that, however, only two teams were worse offensively.

It’s worth noting that Greece already had 4 goals in the group stage. So it’s probably time to reassess its performance at the then Euro. Will history repeat itself after 20 years and will the team with the most uninspiring style of play win the championship?

Source: Fabrizio Romano, UEFA, X