The French team, muddled and failing in front of goal, nevertheless achieved the essential by winning its first meeting at Euro-2024 against Austria (1-0), Monday in Düsseldorf, but the evening seriously was tarnished by Kylian Mbappé’s broken nose.
It is still too early to know the exact duration of the French superstar’s unavailability, but this bloody and “broken” nose, according to a source close to the player, at the very end of the match, constitutes a big black spot for the Blues. The captain was a victim at 86e minute of a violent clash with Austrian defender Kevin Danso.
Well before this bad twist of fate, it was he who had proved decisive by being at the origin of the only French goal, his cross on the right side being headed into his own net by the unfortunate Maximilian Wöber (38e).
The captain of the French team, who had caused a sensation the day before at a press conference by calling for a barrier to “extremes” during the legislative elections, has once again turned into a savior, as he knows how to do so well, for his 80e selection. Before this nasty injury darkens his evening.
“He is not well, he is in poor condition,” regretted coach Didier Deschamps at a press conference. He is in the hands of the medical staff, he has a damaged nose, that’s for sure. To see, but it seems complicated. I don’t have the elements, decisions will be made. I saw him lying on the massage table. It’s not a scratch. I can’t give specific details, because I don’t have any. »
This injury to the No. 1 asset of the world vice-champions is of course very bad news for “DD”, who saw his troops particularly suffer in overcoming the Austrians, while also missing a lot of opportunities. .
A sign that the situation is serious, the coach wanted to remind us that “the France team with Kylian will always be stronger”.
Huge Kanté
After a chaotic season at PSG, a delicate preparation with various physical problems (back, knee) and four missed training sessions, Mbappé did not seem particularly embarrassed on an athletic level and it was his feet that were arrivals the most dangerous actions (9e45e+1.54e with an inexplicably failed duel, alone in front of the Austrian goalkeeper, Patrick Pentz).
Perhaps somewhat tense and tense after two days during which the sporting issue was largely eclipsed by the clear-cut interventions of Marcus Thuram and Mbappé on the subject of the next legislative elections, the vice-world champions, who are among the great favorites of the tournament, released a rather poor production. The other two attackers, Ousmane Dembélé and Marcus Thuram, had a lot of waste and the offensive animation was very dull, like the Blues’ last outings.
Deschamps’ choice to start Adrien Rabiot in midfield, however, was judicious. Even if the Juventus Turin midfielder had not played since May 20 due to injury, he did good to the French with the tireless and always valuable N’Golo Kanté at his side, back for this Euro after two years of absence and exile in Saudi Arabia (Al-Ittihad).
“NG” was enormous at the end of the match to cut the trajectories, especially after a big miss from the defense and Wiliam Saliba in the 85the minute.
But the French rearguard was generally solid and that is the other positive point to remember. Saliba, established in central defense to the detriment of Ibrahima Konaté, held his position well, despite this big alert, and formed an effective hinge with Dayot Upamecano to extinguish the offensive desires of the Austrians, who pushed in the second half to equalize .
But fortunately for France, the opposing attackers were not strong enough to worry the French defenders more than necessary. It will be different music on Friday in Leipzig where the Netherlands will stand in the way of the Blues for the shock of group D. We will certainly have to show another face to snatch the ticket for the 8e of final. No doubt without Mbappé.