Adrien Rabiot has backed his France team-mates to step up in the potential absence of Kylian Mbappe.
France captain Mbappe is currently undergoing treatment on a broken nose after an aerial challenge with Austria defender Kevin Danso during Monday’s win over them.
Mbappe does not currently require surgery and is having a protective mask made, but it is looking likely that he will be unavailable for France’s next game with Netherlands on Friday.
The match is essentially a shootout to see who can finish top of Group D, with both sides winning their opening games. And, if Mbappe is out, Rabiot believes that France have the strength in depth to cope without their star striker.
“He is of course a very important player, that will inevitably have an impact, particularly on the preparation of opposing teams,” Rabiot told a press conference on Wednesday morning.
“We have an exceptional group. On the bench, we have more than enough means to replace Kylian. I have complete confidence in our quality on the bench.”
The French Football Federation were due to provide a further update on Mbappe later on Thursday and Deschamps faces a dilemma as to who plays in his absence.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is one of those pushing to start after coming off the bench in the win over Austria. He has been struggling with a groin injury, but it is thought to be minor and he should be fit to face Netherlands.
I met him this morning, he was a little better, he had gone to do other tests
“There will be exams on Wednesday to make sure we see how things are progressing,” Deschamps said on Tuesday night. “Obviously, the shock was significant. The medical staff did what was necessary to reduce it as much as possible.
“After the exams, obviously, even if it won’t be a surgical intervention right away, he will have to do it. Already on Tuesday morning he was a little better so we’ll see that. We’ll monitor it closely every day.”
France face a nervous wait to learn how Mbappe’s tests on Wednesday day go, but Arsenal defender William Saliba is optimistic.
“I met him this morning, he was a little better,” he said. “He had gone to do other tests. I don’t know more. But when I saw him this morning, he was better.”
