June 24th 2024.
Kylian Mbappe, one of France's star players, will be sporting a protective mask for the remainder of the Euro tournament. Although he is eager to get back on the field, there is no guarantee that he will be playing against Poland on Tuesday evening, according to France's manager, Didier Deschamps.
Mbappe sustained a broken nose during France's first game against Austria, after colliding with defender Kevin Danso. He was quickly taken to the hospital, but luckily did not require surgery. Despite this, he will still need to wear a mask for the rest of the tournament. Even though he was on the bench for their second game against the Netherlands, Mbappe was not able to play.
With four points from two games, France is almost guaranteed a spot in the knockout round. However, they still need to secure the top spot in their group, which means they will need to win against Poland, who has already been eliminated from the tournament. This may require Mbappe to be called upon, but Deschamps remained vague on whether or not it would happen. He simply stated that Mbappe is improving day by day and is just as eager to play as he was against the Netherlands.
To prepare for wearing the mask, Mbappe participated in a closed-door match against Paderborn's Under-21 team last Saturday. He managed to score two goals and make two assists, showing that the mask does not hinder his abilities on the field. However, Deschamps did mention that the mask may affect Mbappe's vision, similar to wearing 3D glasses. But he assured that the mask is as thin as possible and necessary to protect Mbappe's face during physical encounters in the game.
France's only goal in the Euro tournament so far was an own goal, and they missed several opportunities to score against the Netherlands. This is why midfielder N'Golo Kante is excited for Mbappe's return. "With Kylian back, I think that can help us to score and win," said the Chelsea legend. He also mentioned that Mbappe looked great and dangerous during training, and he hopes this will translate onto the field in their next game.
Mbappe's return with his protective mask may just be the boost that France needs to secure their spot in the knockout round. And with his skills and determination, he could be the key to their success in the tournament.
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