France opened play at the European Championship on Monday with a 1-0 win over Austria, but left the game with injury fears for star striker Kylian Mbappé.
With France leading 1-0 in the final minutes of the match in Germany, Mbappe’s nose was bloodied after a collision, eventually forcing him to leave the match. French manager Didier Deschamps said after the match that Mbappe had probably broken his nose.
According to media reports, the French Football Federation confirmed that Mbappe suffered a broken nose and was transported to a local hospital in Dusseldorf, Germany. After initial reports that he would undergo surgery, it was reportedly decided that he would not have surgery when he was treated in hospital.
Mbappé’s future status at the European Championship was not immediately clear.
The contact took place when Mbappé headed the ball in front of Austria’s goal from a set area. As Mbappe pushed through the header, his face collided with the shoulder of Austrian Kevin Danso.
The contact left Mbappe’s nose bloodied and disfigured.
Mbappe attempted to return to the field of play in the 89th minute and immediately sat back down on the turf holding his nose. He had returned to the match without permission from the match officials, who gave him a yellow card.
France then secured the 1-0 victory. Mbappe’s status in terms of the injury and his yellow card are concerns about progress in the European Championship. If Mbappe returns to play with his injury, he risks a one-match suspension and another yellow card.
France won on Monday with an own goal on the head of Austrian Maximilian Wöber on a pass from Mbappé.
France will play against the Netherlands in a group on Friday.
