“Everything is going in the right direction so that Kylian Mbappé can be available” against the Netherlands, announces Didier Deschamps

Will Kylian Mbappé start against the Netherlands, Friday June 21, for the French team’s second match at Euro 2024? If the person concerned was replaced by Antoine Griezmann in the pre-match press conference, Didier Deschamps did not rule out the possibility at all, despite the pessimism of the last few days following the broken nose of the captain of the Blues against Austria. “Everything is going in the right direction so that Kylian Mbappé can be available”replied the coach to the first question he received on the eve of the match.

“Available” does not mean that the third top scorer in the history of the Blues starts the match, or even that he comes off the bench. In any case, he was present at training on the pitch at the Red Bull Arena on the eve of the match, with a personalized blue-white-red mask. The coach has every interest in leaving doubt and forcing the Dutch to prepare for several scenarios. Antoine Griezmann also went in this direction: “Kylian is doing very well. His nose has deflated a little. We will see at the last moment, depending on his sensations”.

“Everyone is ready. It’s group management and I’m not going to make a special case.”

Didier Deschamps

at a press conference

For Didier Deschamps, the uncertainty around the physical condition of his player does not represent a disturbance, unlike the political context, which interfered with the approach to the first match. “Internally there is tranquility and serenityhe assured. It’s nothing comparable. Of the eight questions I was asked, seven and a half did not concern the field“. But the coach did not appreciate the questions concerning Kylian Mbappé any more, particularly when he was asked if he had received his protective mask: “If he plays, Kylian will wear a mask. You don’t need to know how, you have enough infiltrations”.