- He missed their second match but returned
- Despite the discomfort, Mbappe remains focused
- Their next challenge comes against Belgium
French star Kylian Mbappe isn’t letting a broken nose and uncomfortable mask hinder his determination to lead his team to victory in Euro 2024.
The 25-year-old striker suffered the injury during France’s opening win against Austria. He missed their second match but returned, sporting a protective mask, to score a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Poland.
While his goal kept France’s hopes alive, Mbappe admitted the mask is a major nuisance. “Playing with a mask is absolutely horrible,” he confessed. “It limits my vision and gets sweaty.”
Despite the discomfort, Mbappe remains focused on the bigger picture. “I don’t have a choice,” he said. “I can only play like that.”
This is a crucial moment for France, who haven’t scored from open play yet in the tournament. “We need to be efficient,” echoed coach Didier Deschamps. “Winning requires goals, and that doesn’t happen magically.”
Their next challenge comes against Belgium, a team they defeated in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. Both teams finished second in their groups and haven’t quite found their rhythm yet.
However, Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco remains optimistic. “The chances we’ve created are incredible,” he stated. “It’s baffling that we haven’t scored more.”
Meanwhile, Belgium midfielder Orel Mangala trusts the fans will be back on their side after booing them following the Ukraine draw. “We were all frustrated,” he acknowledged. “But now we focus on the next match, and I hope the fans will be behind us again.”
With Mbappe’s dedication and France’s hunger for goals, the knockout stages promise to be filled with excitement. Can they overcome the discomfort and find their scoring touch, or will Belgium capitalize on the opportunity to turn their luck around?
