France began their European Championship campaign with a 1-0 victory over Austria on Monday, but the match concluded with injury concerns for their star striker, Kylian Mbappé.
During the final minutes of the match held in Germany, Mbappé's nose was bloodied following a collision, leading to his eventual departure from the game. France's manager Didier Deschamps stated post-match that Mbappé had likely sustained a broken nose.
According to media reports, the French Football Federation confirmed that Mbappé did indeed break his nose and was transported to a local hospital in Düsseldorf, Germany. Initially, there were reports suggesting he would undergo surgery, but it was later decided that surgery would not be necessary following his treatment at the hospital.
Mbappé's future participation in the European Championship remains uncertain.
The incident occurred when Mbappé headed the ball on a set piece near Austria's goal, resulting in a collision with the shoulder of Austria's Kevin Danso. The impact left Mbappé's nose bloodied and visibly disfigured.
In the 89th minute, Mbappé attempted to return to the field but immediately sat back down, clutching his nose. He had re-entered the game without the officials' permission and was subsequently issued a yellow card.
France secured their win with an own goal by Austria's Maximilian Wöber, which was set up by a pass from Mbappé.
Looking ahead, France is scheduled to face the Netherlands on Friday in their next group play match. Mbappé's status, both regarding his injury and his yellow card, remains a concern for the team. If he returns to play while still recovering from his injury, he faces the risk of a one-game ban if he receives another yellow card.
France's win on Monday sets a positive tone for their European Championship campaign, but the team must now navigate the challenges posed by Mbappé's injury and potential suspension.
