Munich, June 17, 2024, The Europe Today: Despite starting their Euro 2024 group stage campaign with a win, Didier Deschamps and his French team face serious concerns as star player Kylian Mbappe left the match injured, potentially affecting his participation in upcoming games.
France secured a 1-0 victory over Austria in their Group D opener on Monday, thanks to an own goal by Austrian defender Maximilian Wober, resulting from a cross by Mbappe in the first half.
However, the match took a worrying turn in the second half when Mbappe, recently signed by Real Madrid, collided violently with Austrian defender Kevin Danso while contesting a header. Television footage showed visible deformation of Mbappe’s nose, and his jersey was stained with blood.
In a post-match interview, Deschamps described Mbappe’s injury as “very unfavorable” for the team. Follow-up reports from French media indicate that while Mbappe did not undergo surgery that night, there is uncertainty about his availability for the next matches. Some reports suggest he will miss the remaining two group stage matches, while others confirm his absence for the next game against the Netherlands, with his status for the final group game against Poland still uncertain.
Offering some reassurance to fans, Mbappe took to social media to joke about his injury, writing, “Any thoughts on masks?” implying that he might play with a protective mask if necessary.
Mbappe’s performance in the European Championship has been less impressive compared to his stellar World Cup performances. He failed to score any goals in the last edition in 2021, and France was knocked out by Switzerland in a penalty shootout during the round of 16, with Mbappe missing the decisive penalty, drawing criticism from French fans.
The Blues will face the Netherlands in their second group stage match on June 21.
