French football fans were left stunned after Kylian Mbappé, their talismanic captain, suffered a broken nose in a collision during Les Bleus’ opening Euro 2024 match against Austria. The incident occurred in the 20th minute when Mbappé challenged Austria’s Kevin Danso for a high ball. The clash of heads left Mbappé sprawled on the pitch, blood pouring from his nose.
Despite initial fears of a serious injury, scans later confirmed a fracture. Mbappé, who recently signed for Real Madrid in a record-breaking transfer, was forced to leave the field and was treated at a nearby hospital in Dusseldorf.
The news has cast a shadow over France’s Euro campaign. Mbappé, a two-time World Cup winner and reigning Golden Boot holder, is considered the linchpin of the French attack. His blistering pace, clinical finishing, and creative spark are crucial to Didier Deschamps’ tactics.
“It’s a big blow, obviously,“ admitted a dejected Deschamps in the post-match press conference. “We’ll have to wait and see the extent of the damage and how long he’ll be out for. It’s too early to say if he can play any further part in the tournament.“
France managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Austria thanks to a late goal by Antoine Griezmann. But the win was overshadowed by Mbappé’s injury. The medical team are working tirelessly to determine the severity of the fracture and explore the possibility of Mbappé playing with a protective mask.
The coming days will be crucial. France faces a crucial group stage encounter against the Netherlands on Friday. Without Mbappé, the pressure will fall on the likes of Griezmann, Karim Benzema, and Kingsley Coman to carry the attacking responsibility.
The footballing world awaits with bated breath for updates on Mbappé’s condition. Can France weather this storm and retain their European crown without their star player? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: Euro 2024 has just become a lot more interesting.
