Kylian Mbappe suffered a broken nose during France's 1-0 victory over Austria in the Euro 2024 opener on Monday. The incident occurred when Mbappe collided headfirst with Austria's Kevin Danso late in the game, forcing French manager Didier Deschamps to sub out his captain for Olivier Giroud.
Mbappe was rushed to a hospital in Dusseldorf and underwent several tests. Upon returning, the French superstar asked fans on social media for suggestions on a mask.
Des idées de masques ?
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 17, 2024
Mbappe's tweet likely confirmed that he would be sporting a mask upon his return to the football field. According to French Football Federation (FFF) President Philippe Diallo, the verdict on Mbappe was "rather reassuring" and that he was unlikely to require surgery to fix the broken nose.
"The news coming from the doctors is more positive than not, and luckily, he doesn't need surgery, which would rule him out completely for the rest of the tournament," Diallo told reporters, via The Guardian.
Diallo added that Mbappe was unlikely to suit up for Friday's big Group D match against the Netherlands but could potentially return for the clash against Poland next Tuesday.
Masked Kylian Mbappé for the rest of Euro 2024? pic.twitter.com/zaRnOz5CAA
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 17, 2024
France — arguably the deepest team in Euro 2024 — has what it takes to withstand the rest of the group stages without Mbappe. However, a loss to the Netherlands on Friday could complicate matters, especially if the dark horse Austria can knock off Poland and give the Dutch a run for their money next week.
Mbappe is trying to right the wrongs of Euro 2020 when his team suffered a shocking loss to Switzerland in the Group of 16. The striker scored zero goals from 14 attempts three years ago, and with him going scoreless on Monday, he has yet to open his account at the European Championships.
It's why Mbappe said he was in "a vengeful mood" entering this year's event. The idea of a peeved Mbappe wearing a mask and doing his thing should be a scary proposition for his opponents.
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