Kylian Mbappé Suffers Broken Nose in Euro Win
France began their European Championship campaign on Monday with a 1-0 victory over Austria but faced an injury concern for star striker Kylian Mbappé.
During the closing minutes of the match in Germany, Mbappé's nose was bloodied following a collision, forcing him to exit the game. France's manager Didier Deschamps confirmed post-match that Mbappé likely suffered a broken nose.
The French Football Federation later confirmed that Mbappé did indeed break his nose and was taken to a local hospital in Düsseldorf, Germany. Initial reports suggested that he would undergo surgery, but it was subsequently decided that surgery would not be necessary.
Mbappé's availability for the remainder of the European Championship remains uncertain.
The injury occurred as Mbappé attempted a header during a set piece in front of Austria's goal. In the process, his face collided with the shoulder of Austria's Kevin Danso, resulting in a bloodied and disfigured nose.
Mbappé briefly tried to re-enter the match in the 89th minute but quickly sat back down, clutching his nose. He returned to the field without permission from the officials, leading to a yellow card.
France managed to secure their 1-0 win through an own goal by Austria's Maximilian Wöber, who deflected a pass from Mbappé into his own net.
Looking ahead, France is scheduled to play the Netherlands on Friday in group play. Mbappé's injury and the yellow card present potential challenges for his participation in future matches. If Mbappé plays with the injury, he risks a one-game ban if he receives another yellow card.
