Kylian Mbappe, France’s star forward, trained separately from the team on Wednesday, just two days before France’s crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands in Leipzig. The 25-year-old is recovering from a broken nose sustained during France’s 1-0 victory over Austria on Monday.
Mbappe collided with Austrian defender Kevin Danso late in the match, resulting in a severe nosebleed and forcing him off the pitch. Despite provoking the own goal by Maximilian Woeber that secured the win for France, Mbappe’s injury has cast doubt over his availability for Friday’s match.
On Wednesday, Mbappe missed the main group training session but later appeared on the field with a protective plaster across his nose. He engaged in individual drills with a fitness coach before joining his teammates for a shooting exercise, signaling a potential return to full training.
The French Football Federation (FFF) reported that Mbappe underwent medical tests at a hospital in Düsseldorf, confirming that he would not require surgery. The FFF stated that Mbappe would be fitted with a protective mask to facilitate his return to action after appropriate treatment.
France’s coaching staff has deemed Mbappe “doubtful” for the upcoming match against the Netherlands. Should he be unable to play, veteran striker Olivier Giroud is expected to step in as his replacement.
Both France and the Netherlands top Group D after winning their opening matches, with the Dutch securing a 2-1 victory over Poland on Sunday. Friday’s clash will be pivotal for both teams as they vie for qualification in the Euro 2024 tournament.
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Mbappe partially trains two days before France Euro clash with Dutch
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