Who could doubt their degree of motivation after several days where it was more about their speeches on political news than their first Euro match, the Blues showed that they could be present with force on these two grounds. By winning (1-0) against a tough Austrian team, Monday June 17 in Düsseldorf (Germany), they not only successfully entered Euro 2024, but also showed qualities of solidity and concentration. and commitment rather reassuring at the opening of a major tournament.
Because qualities of this type were needed to respond to the physical duel imposed by an Austrian team dressed all in red and full of athletic virtues: speed in the races, pressing at all levels and impact in the contacts. A few days ago, defender Benjamin Pavard was right in fearing “a very complicated match, with a lot of intensity”.
This has sometimes been excessive. Particularly when Kylian Mbappé was injured in the nose in a collision with defender Kevin Danso, at the end of the match, causing a sudden spike of concern in the staff of the France team. Did Mbappé have a broken nose? Would he be unavailable for the rest of the competition? A fracture, with potentially very serious consequences, was quickly feared and confirmed during the night. “This is obviously the downside of this evening for us,” said, disappointed, Didier Deschamps after the game.
A mask for Mbappé
Examined by the French team doctor then at the Düsseldorf hospital, the player “returned to the base camp of the French team” And “will undergo treatment in the coming days, without undergoing surgery immediately”informed the management of the Blues. “A mask will be made in such a way as to allow the number 10 of the French team to consider resuming competition after a period devoted to treatment”said the staff.
France’s next match will be held on Friday June 21, against the Netherlands. If he were to not play him, Mbappé would inevitably be missed by the Blues, as captain and as a man in decisive moments. The only goal of the match came from a cross that he sent shortly after the half-hour mark and that Austrian defender Maximilian Wöber transformed into a French goal, deceiving his goalkeeper with a cross header that a center forward could not have been better placed.
This means that the French captain remains influential, even without being at his best. He also missed a 2-0 ball in a completely unusual way: at the start of the second half, launched alone from deep – a situation he likes – the striker saw his curled shot miss the Austrian goal . “The French team with Kylian will always be stronger, recalled Didier Deschamps. But if the news does not go in that direction, we will fight without him. »
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