France is poised to make a serious run for the Euro 2024 title, but their fate will largely hinge on the dazzling Kylian Mbappe. The 25-year-old phenom, widely regarded as one of the world’s top players, is eager to erase the memory of his lackluster Euro 2020 performance from his otherwise stellar resume. He’s looking to turn the page with a standout performance in this summer’s tournament in Germany, aiming to lead France back to European glory.
Fresh off his highly-anticipated move to Real Madrid, Mbappe hit the ground running by forcing an own goal against Austria, securing a 1-0 victory for France. However, the celebration was cut short as the young star picked up an injury late in the match. Now, the entire football world will be holding its breath, keeping a close eye on Mbappe’s recovery and future performances.
Kylian Mbappe injury news, updates after broken nose vs. Austria
In a dramatic turn of events, Kylian Mbappe was forced off late in France’s 1-0 win over Austria due to a facial injury. Attempting to head the ball into the net in the 86th minute, Mbappe collided face-first with Austrian defender Kevin Danso’s shoulder. The impact left Mbappe bleeding profusely from his nose, prompting lengthy treatment and a significant delay.
When he finally got up, it was clear that his nose was badly damaged, possibly broken. Mbappe tried to re-enter the match, but he was immediately subbed off, with Olivier Giroud coming on for the nine minutes of stoppage time. France’s coach Didier Deschamps later suggested that Mbappe had likely broken his nose, though it had yet to be confirmed. “Yes, his nose is not right at all,” Deschamps told French channel TF1. “We’ll see. Obviously, it’s tonight’s negative. It’s only a nose, but it’s very bothersome for us.”
Initial reports indicated Mbappe might need surgery, but the French Football Federation (FFF) later confirmed that surgery was not required, which was a relief. Despite the injury, Mbappe remained in high spirits, joking on social media: “Any ideas for masks?”
Mbappe has recovered enough to return to action at Euro 2024, albeit with a protective mask. FFF President Philippe Diallo provided an update, saying, “As you have seen, Kylian had this injury on the nose yesterday. The latest news is reassuring where there is no short-term operation needed, which was initially expected. Concerning his availability for the rest of the tournament, it’s a little early to give you a schedule, and we will wait for the final verdict from the doctors’ tests this morning. Everybody came back a bit late last night, so we will wait until later in the day to see how it evolves, but I will reiterate the latest news is positive due to him not needing an operation. Him having his tournament taken away from him is not the case.”
Will Kylian Mbappe play against Poland?
Mbappe was named in the starting lineup for the game against Poland on June 25. He was among the substitutes for France’s second Group D game against the Netherlands, but Deschamps opted not to risk him, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw. On June 23, Le Parisien reported that Mbappe’s recovery was progressing well, suggesting he would start against Poland, who have lost their two Euro 2024 matches so far.
The FFF also indicated that Mbappe would likely have to wear a protective mask to prevent re-injury, and he has been seen training with it.
Why was Kylian Mbappe booked by the official after his injury?
Adding insult to injury, Mbappe was also shown a yellow card by Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano after the Austria match. After receiving treatment and attempting to return to the field, Mbappe was clearly still not fit to play. He walked back onto the pitch holding his nose, then immediately sat down, which appeared to be a time-wasting tactic. The referee was unimpressed and booked him for it. In a tournament where two yellow cards lead to a one-match suspension, this could significantly impact Mbappe’s availability later in Euro 2024.
