French star forward Kylian Mbappé will miss France’s upcoming Euro 2024 match against the Netherlands on Friday after sustaining a broken nose in their opening game against Austria.

The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed that Mbappé avoided surgery, which would have sidelined him for the remainder of the tournament. Instead, he will wear a custom-made mask upon his return to the pitch.

Despite his initial hopes of playing, further medical assessments have determined that Mbappé needs to sit out the next game. France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the severity of the injury and indicated that while Mbappé showed some improvement, they would monitor his condition daily.

“There will be more tests tomorrow to see how things are developing. Obviously, it was a big collision,” Deschamps said. “The medical staff have done what they needed to reduce it as much as possible. This morning, he was a bit better, so we will see that, and we will follow it closely each day.”

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France aims to be cautious with Mbappé’s recovery, given his crucial role in the team’s aspirations for the tournament. Depending on his progress, they hope he can return for the match against Poland on June 25.

France began their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Austria, setting a positive tone as they aim to add another significant title following their 2018 World Cup triumph. After the match, Mbappé, who was hospitalized in Düsseldorf, Germany, humorously sought suggestions for a mask on social media.

FFF President Philippe Diallo expressed optimism regarding Mbappé’s return, emphasizing the positive outlook from the medical team and the avoidance of surgery. “There won’t be an operation in the short term. Concerning his return, it is premature today to give a timetable; we’re going to wait for the latest information from the doctor this morning,” Diallo said.

Kevin Danso, the Austrian defender involved in the collision with Mbappé, said on social media: “To French supporters: I am sorry that Kylian Mbappe was injured from our duel.”

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