Kylian Mbappé's nose injury places doubt on his continued involvement in Euro 2024

  • 3 months ago

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00:00Sportfew now on the programme, France delivering a 100th victory for manager Didier Deschamps
00:06as they edged a tenacious Austria side 1-0 in their opening Group D match at Euro 2024.
00:12It came at rather a cost though, superstar Kylian Mbappé suffering that broken nose.
00:17By no means a vintage performance, France also required an own goal by Austria defender Max Wommer
00:22shortly before half-time to secure the three points that put them level with the Netherlands
00:26who they face next on Friday.
00:28Not known at this stage if Mbappé will be able to play or not.
00:31We'll find out a lot more in just a second from Celina Sykes who was at the match for us.
00:35Let's hear from Didier Deschamps first though.
00:39He's not so well. He's in a bad way, I don't know.
00:43He's being dealt with by the medical staff.
00:45So I can't tell you any more but his nose is a mess, that's for sure.
00:49So we'll have to wait and see.
00:51But it seems complicated so that's obviously the black mark of the evening for us.
00:55Let's hear as well from some of Mbappé's teammates.
01:01It's somewhat at odds with the fact that we're happy to have won the match.
01:05We're a bit disappointed for Kylian.
01:09He's gone for tests now.
01:11I can't tell you anything more about his injury but we hope he'll be back as soon as possible.
01:20He may have to skip the Netherlands game
01:22but I think he'll most likely be back after that.
01:27We have mixed feelings.
01:29We're happy because the first match is very important.
01:32And they were not an easy team today.
01:35But of course we're a bit worried about our captain.
01:38We're hoping it wasn't too serious and that he'll be back soon.
01:43And Mbappé has reacted himself as well.
01:46He's not lost his sense of humour, posting on Twitter.
01:49Anyone got any idea for masks?
01:51As you can see at the top there and already he's getting some responses.
01:54One there, a teenage mutant ninja turtle mask has been suggested for him.
02:00Well let's talk to our sports editor, Selina Sykes, who joins us now from Dusseldorf.
02:05Selina, we have one of the players there saying mixed feelings.
02:08I suppose that's it, isn't it?
02:09I mean they won, which is the crucial thing, but some negatives as well.
02:14That's right, Stuart.
02:16All the players are putting it very perfectly there.
02:19Obviously they got the win, a hard-fought win,
02:22but that win was overshadowed of course by Mbappé's injury.
02:26And now a lot of concern and doubt about his future participation at this Euro 2024.
02:34The French Football Federation did confirm in the early hours of this evening
02:39that he has fractured his nose after getting a shoulder in the face late on in that game last night
02:46against a very aggressive Austrian side, it has to be said.
02:50He went immediately to hospital after the game here in Dusseldorf
02:55where he got an x-ray which confirmed that he had indeed fractured his nose.
03:01He's now back with the rest of the French squad.
03:05He doesn't have to undergo surgery right now.
03:08Which is, considering the images we saw last night which were very impressive,
03:13the moment he broke his nose and all the blood afterwards,
03:17it's very promising considering all of that.
03:20He himself, as you mentioned Stuart, made light of the situation after the match,
03:24joking on social media.
03:27Does anyone have any ideas for masks?
03:30The Federation has confirmed that he will be wearing a mask
03:34as he tries to reintegrate a re-participator in this tournament after having completed a treatment.
03:42It is unlikely that he will feature for France's next game on Friday against the Netherlands
03:47which will be a big test for them considering that it was quite a struggle for them last night against Austria.
03:53Look ahead a bit for us then Celine, as you say, of course it's going to be a big match for France.
03:59Lots of other big matches coming up too.
04:02Yeah, that's right.
04:04So today we'll see the last big favourites of this competition kick their campaign off.
04:10Portugal will be facing the Czech Republic later on.
04:14We've so far seen all of the tournament's big favourites win their first game.
04:19Italy, England, Spain and France last night.
04:24So the Portuguese will be looking to kick off their campaign with three points as well.
04:29They won in fact even in 2016 with Ronaldo.
04:35Remarkably for him this will be his sixth Euros tournament with the Portuguese side
04:40which will be a new record for a player at this tournament.
04:44Roberto Martinez is their manager now and they're doing remarkably well under him.
04:49They've won 10 games out of 10 with him so far.
04:53There are a few questions really about Ronaldo's participation in this squad.
04:58Is it time for him to move over and let a new generation of players come in?
05:03The same questions were asked of course two years ago at the 2022 World Cup.
05:08But for now he is performing and that is what will be taken into account.
05:12He scored two goals in their last preparation game.
05:15He also scored 10 goals in their qualifying campaign.
05:18So right now the 39-year-old does seem to have a spot in the squad.
05:22This does look likely though to be his last international tournament.
05:25We'll have to wait and see.
05:27Selina, thanks very much. A lot more from Selina here on France 24
05:30as the competition progresses following France and all the other big teams for you.

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