Marie-Antoinette Katoto will not put her crampons back on the lawn of Euro 2022. The Blue striker was injured Thursday during the match against Belgium. Meeting won by the French 2-1. The PSG player only played a quarter of an hour then left after a bad support, without any contact with the opponent. After examination by the French team doctor, number 9 joined the stand on crutches.
It was his right knee that was hit. Marie-Antoinette Katoto is suffering from a ruptured anterior ligament and a crack in the meniscus, according to someone close to the case at AFP. The day before the match against Belgium, during training, the striker had hit a teammate, thus weakening her right knee.
MAK: Euro’s flagship centre-forward
The 23-year-old PSG striker was expected in this competition. In particular thanks to her efficiency during the season: she has no less than 48 goals, including 16 alongside Les Bleues after only 15 games, all started as starters. For the moment, we do not know the duration of Marie Antoinette Katoto’s stoppage but it should last several months. Which risks annoying PSG, which has just extended the striker for three more seasons.
The centre-forward will not be replaced. Indeed, the rules of UEFA – the organizing body of the Euro – only authorizes the replacement of a goalkeeper in the event of “injury or serious illness” during the tournament. She will therefore be in the stands to watch the next matches of Les Bleues. They have already qualified for the quarter-finals, even before the last match of the first round against Iceland, Monday at 9 p.m.