Kylian Mbappe is ‘raring to go’ but there is no guarantee he will play for France against Poland at Euro 2024 on Tuesday evening.
That is according to France manager Didier Deschamps as his star player continues to recover from a broken nose sustained in the opening 1-0 win against Austria.
Mbappe, 25, collided with defender Kevin Danso toward the end of the game and was later taken to hospital but thankfully for Les Bleus fans he did not need to undergo surgery.
He will however wear a mask for the rest of the tournament and while he was on the bench for the goalless draw against the Netherlands, the forward was not risked.
With four points from two games, qualification to the knockouts is all but guaranteed but top spot in Group D is not, so they’ll need to win and win well against a Poland side already out of the tournament.
As such, Mbappe may need to be called upon but Deschamps was coy on whether or not that would happen, saying in his pre-match press conference: ‘He’s better day by day.
‘I won’t deny that he is as keen to play tomorrow as he was to play against the Netherlands. He’s raring to go.
‘Yesterday, he was in our training session, the bruise has gone down and he’s getting used to playing in a mask.
‘Maybe Kylian will help us score goals and win the game, it is a huge advantage. I hope that will reflect on the pitch tomorrow.’
In order to get used to his mask, Mbappe took part in a behind closed doors match last Saturday against German side Paderborn’s Under-21s, where he scored twice and made two assists.
Asked if the mask was hampering the Real Madrid ace, Deschamps added: ‘No problems with breathing but the way he sees yes. For those who play with a mask, it’s not a constraint but it does limit your vision.
‘Obviously, yes it’s maybe hindering but it’ll be something he’ll get used to. It’s like wearing those 3D glasses. We have as thin a masks as possible.
‘He wears it because he needs to protect his face in certain incidents that could occur. There will be contact regardless of where you play, whenever you have those one-vs-ones.’
France’s only goal at the Euros so far was an own goal, and the side spurned several huge chances against Netherland, so midfielder N’Golo Kante is certainly looking forward to Mbappe’s return.
‘With Kylian back, I think that can help us to score and win. Clearly, it’s a big plus to have Kylian back,’ the Chelsea legend said.
‘He was great, decisive and dangerous [in training]. I think he feels well and I hope this translates on the pitch tomorrow.’