There is no doubting that the French have failed to fire so far at Euro 2024, a member of their squad yet to register at the tournament. After a lacklustre showing in Kylian Mbappe’s absence against the Netherlands, Karl Matchett explores the narrative around Didier Deschamps’ side:

And here’s a reminder of which players are off to strong scoring starts at the tournament:

Need a refresher of all of the action so far and the schedule for the knockout rounds to come? Our big fixture guide will have you covered throughout the rest of Euro 2024 as we near the pointy end of the tournament.

Robert Lewandowski sported a protective mask after suffering a facial injury while at Bayern Munich in 2015, and can thus offer some advice on what the Frenchman can expect if he does, as expected, don one while featuring tonight.

“It’s tough, especially for strikers who move around the penalty box,” Lewandowski cautioned. “I remember well that I had problems to react and to see the ball and the opponents.”

Poland‘s Robert Lewandowski has no intention of retiring from international football after his side’s disappointing Euro 2024 campaign and is ready to play a full 90 minutes against France tonight.

With Poland having little but pride to play for in their final game, having become the first team to be eliminated from the European Championship on Friday, there were questions about the 35-year-old Lewandowski’s international future.

Midfielder Kamil Grosicki, 36, has announced the France match will be his last for Poland, while 34-year-old goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has reportedly said he plans to retire from international duty after Euro 2024.

But Lewandowski — Poland‘s most capped player and all-time record goalscorer, with 82 goals in 151 appearances — insisted he wants to continue and play alongside a new generation of Polish footballers.

“I’m 36 years old soon. A lot of people will be wondering how long I will play for, but I still have that fire inside of me and no one from outside will be able to affect my decision,” he told reporters on Monday.

“One day, maybe I’ll wake up and think maybe it’s time to think about retiring from international duty. But today I feel and I see that this team has a future, that despite this European Championship we have built something here.

“We have constructed something here. I see the potential in this team. I see a lot of young players emerging.”

Last time out: Robert Lewandowski had the air of a man contemplating what might have been and considering what comes next, wrote The Independent’s Richard Jolly in Berlin .

When the final whistle blew, he ran his hands through his hair. He then stood in the centre of the Olympiastadion pitch, gazing into the skies. A ruminative trudge around to acknowledge the Poland fans followed.

He knew his Euro 2024 was in effect over before France and the Netherlands drew to confirm Poland’s exit. With something at stake, his competition comprised of half an hour on the pitch, bringing one booking, for a stray arm, no shots, and defeat to Austria. Lewandowski had spent the first half as a whisperer, going along the dugout to impart his wisdom. It was all he could do.

France captain Kylian Mbappe took part in a practice match on Saturday in his first competitive action since breaking his nose, scoring twice against the under-21 side of German club Paderborn, where the French are based for the European Championship.

Mbappe was named on the bench but did not play in Friday’s 0-0 draw with the Netherlands in France’s second Group D game after fracturing his nose in the 1-0 win over Austria in their first game last Monday. He was injured in a collision with Austria’s Kevin Danso.

Mbappe wore a mask against Padereborn’s academy players, and played in the entire match, made up of two 30-minute halves. He also contributed two assists.

The 25-year-old Mbappe had used the mask before in two training sessions ahead of the clash against the Dutch but this was the first time wearing it in a game situation.

Latest on the fitness of the France captain

Netherlands: Like England, the Netherlands and France are guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds after reaching four points after their first two games. The Dutch will be guaranteed a place in the top two if they avoid defeat to Austria, and will top the group if they win and better France’s result against Poland. They cannot finish any lower than third, with Poland already knocked out and confirmed as fourth before the final round of fixtures.

France: Can confirm their place in the top two if they avoid defeat to Poland, but Les Bleus will be looking to top the group and can do so if they win and the Netherlands don’t against Austria. If France and the Netherlands both win, it will go down to goal difference and then goals scored as the head-to-head is level.

Austria: Ralf Rangnick’s side can only finish in the top two if they defeat the Netherlands. They can go through to the last-16 even if they lose, unless they lose by four goals or more.

Euro 2024 arrives at the final round of the group stage to decide who will go through to the knockouts. As well as the top two teams in each of the six groups, the four best third-placed teams will also progress to make up the last-16, with the remaining eight nations cut from the tournament.

England are already through in Group C, while France and Netherlands are also into the last-16 in Group D, but there will be a fight for top spot in both groups as well as a scramble to finish runner-up.