The fate of France’s Euros campaign became jeopardised on Tuesday morning AEST as captain Kylian Mbappe suffered an accidental nose injury during France’s first match of the tournament in Germany.
While chasing an airborne ball in the 90th minute of the match at Düsseldorf Arena, Mbappe’s head collided with the shoulder of Austrian defender Kevin Danso, resulting in a broken nose.
The French Football Federation provided coach Didier Deschamps with hope of Mbappe’s future in the Euros, ruling that nose surgery would not be necessary.
However, following the decision that he would need to wear a mask, Deschamps is “not optimistic” about the captain returning for France’s match against the Netherlands in Leizpig this Saturday.
“I have always said that the France team will be stronger with Kylian in it,” Deschamps said.
“Kylian is Kylian, and every team is stronger with him in it.”
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Viewers of ESPN have also expressed a lack of confidence in the French team without Mbappe — a poll revealed a heavy 60 per cent believed that France would not win this year’s title should Mbappe ultimately require a nose surgery after further medical evaluation.
This reaction from spectators isn’t completely surprising, considering France’s win against Austria (1-0) was carried by Maximilian Wober’s own goal.
“We could and should have done better with certain opportunities,” Deschamps confessed.
Mbappe remains optimistic, however, taking to Twitter to make light of the situation. Asking his followers what mask he should return with, he was met with an inundation of Ninja Turtle quips.
France’s campaign will continue on Saturday when they face the Netherlands at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.