Already in the early hours of this Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé returned animated to the French team’s training camp in Paderborn. The tests carried out at the Dusseldorf University Hospital ruled out operating on the nose fracture that occurred during the France-Austria (1-0) match. The surgical intervention would have almost certainly meant his goodbye to the European Championship.
A mask will protect the battered nostrils of the new Real Madrid player after hitting them forcefully against the shoulder of Austrian defender Kevin Danso. “A mask will be made so that he can consider returning to competition after a period of treatment”, reads a statement from the French Football Federation.
The normal thing is that Mbappé will not be lined up next Friday by Didier Deschamps against the Netherlands, one of the most attractive duels of the first phase of the tournament. The victory against the Austrians has given the French coach room to play with the times. These could be extended until the round of 16 arrive if France defeats the Dutch and appears on the last day of the classified group stage and with first place in the group within reach. Olivier Giroud is the attacker who sounded strongly this morning in the French camp to take Mbappé’s place against Ronald Koeman’s team.
Not having to leave the tournament and avoid the operation led Mbappé to show his satisfaction on social networks during the night. He even got in the mood to ask if anyone had an idea for designing the mask. There were those who responded by reminding him that in 2017 his PSG teammates gave him a Donatello mask, the Ninja Turtle with which the features on his face bear a great resemblance. Tension and concern gave way to moderate optimism on the French expedition.
Des ideas of masques 🎭😅?
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 17, 2024
The final design of the protector will have to be tested by Mbappé first in training sessions. The resistant carbon fiber with which they are manufactured guarantees protection against impacts. The most frequent discomfort for its users lies in breathing.
If with a call to the polls to prevent the candidate of the far-right National Rally party, Jordan Bardella, from winning the legislative elections on June 30, he made him reign with words, with the mask he will take over the image of the tournament.
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