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 ahead, 1–0 in the final minutes of the match, Mbappé’s nose became 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.
“Yes, Kylian Mbappé probably broke his nose,” Deschamps said.
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 then 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 injury status and his yellow card are concerns about progress at the European Championship. If Mbappé can play again 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.
