Kylian Mbappé returned to light training Wednesday with a bandage covering his broken nose in his first public appearance since his injury during the European Championship.
Earlier, a cryptic Instagram post from Mbappé hinted at his mindset: “Without risks, there are no victories.” This is the only comment so far from Mbappé or the French team management. Mbappé underwent further tests on the nose injury sustained in the 1-0 win over Austria on Monday.
In a late-afternoon practice session at the Home Deluxe Arena in Paderborn, Mbappé initially ran with the ball alone, with a trainer, and later spoke to France coach Didier Deschamps before joining a shooting drill with teammates. France has yet to confirm his availability for their match against the Netherlands on Friday.
Teammates offered encouraging updates earlier in the day. “A fractured nose isn’t the end of the world,” said midfielder Adrien Rabiot, adding that Mbappé “should be with us pretty soon.” William Saliba reported Mbappé was feeling “a bit better” after their morning conversation.
Mbappé’s injury occurred when his face collided with the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso, resulting in a bloody and swollen nose. He may need to wear a face mask if he continues to play in the tournament.
Rabiot compared Mbappé’s situation to that of Juventus teammate Wojciech Szczesny, who returned quickly after a similar injury. The expectation is that Mbappé will participate further in Euro 2024, especially since France’s win over Austria makes advancing to the knockout stage likely. France’s next match in the round of 16 would be no earlier than June 30.
Rabiot acknowledged the challenge of playing without Mbappé: “He is a very important teammate and he is our captain, so it will have an effect on us, but also for the opponents.” However, he expressed confidence in the team’s depth, saying, “We have what it takes to replace Kylian. If he’s not there, it’s going to be a bit more tough but I trust all the great players we have on the team.”
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