France’s Euro 2024 campaign has hit a stumbling block with star player Kylian Mbappe suffering a severe nose injury during their opening match against Austria. The incident, which saw Mbappe leave the pitch with a blood-soaked shirt after colliding with Kevin Danso, has raised concerns about his ability to continue in the tournament.

Didier Deschamps, the French national team head coach, provided an update on Mbappe’s condition, stating to TF1, “Apparently the nose is not good at all. So we’ll see. It’s obviously the negative point of the evening. Even if it’s just his nose it’s annoying for us.” The French Football Federation later confirmed that Mbappe suffered a broken nose which will require surgery.

Despite the setback, there is hope that Mbappe could still contribute to France’s title defence. Deschamps hinted that Mbappe is likely to play in the rest of the tournament with a mask, although this decision will depend on his recovery and comfort with the protective gear.

As France prepares for their next Group D game against the Netherlands on Friday night, all eyes will be on Mbappe’s recovery and whether he can lead his team to victory despite his injury.