During France's recent 1-0 victory against Austria, star player Kylian Mbappé suffered a concerning facial injury that has cast doubt on his participation in the ongoing European Championship. The injury occurred following an aerial collision with Austria's Kevin Danso, leaving Mbappé visibly distressed on the field with a bloodied and swollen nose. The severity of the injury remains uncertain, with France coach Didier Deschamps expressing concern over Mbappé's condition and his potential availability for future matches.
The incident prompted Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz to call for immediate medical attention for Mbappé, as his teammates and fans anxiously awaited updates on his status. Mbappé, a key figure for the French national team and a rising star in world football, is crucial to France's ambitions of securing a third European Championship title.
Despite attempting to continue playing after the injury, Mbappé eventually had to be substituted due to the discomfort caused by the blow to his nose. His absence from the field was felt by both his teammates and supporters, highlighting his significance to the team's success.
Prior to the injury, Mbappé had a mixed performance in the match, contributing to France's victory with a moment of brilliance that led to an own goal by Austria's Maximilian Wober. However, he also missed a clear scoring opportunity later in the game, failing to capitalize on a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper.
Deschamps, while acknowledging Mbappé's importance to the squad, remained optimistic about the team's prospects regardless of the injury outcome. The French coach emphasized the strength that Mbappé brings to the team and expressed hope for his swift recovery.
Meanwhile, in other Euro 2024 news, Belgium suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat against Slovakia in Group E, with Romelu Lukaku having two goals disallowed by VAR. Slovakia's Ivan Schranz scored the only goal of the match, causing a major upset in the tournament. Romania also made headlines by securing a 3-0 victory over Ukraine, marking their first European Championship win in 24 years.