France’s Euro 2024 campaign has been dealt an early blow as their captain and talisman, Kylian Mbappe, suffered a broken nose in theirhard-fought 1-0 victory against Austria on Monday. The incident occurred late in the game in Duesseldorf, leaving fans and teammates anxiously awaiting updates on his condition and availability for the rest of the tournament. Mbappe, fresh off his move to Real Madrid, was instrumental in securing the win, forcing the own goal that separated the two sides. However, his collision with Austrian defender Kevin Danso led to his substitution by veteran Olivier Giroud and cast a shadow over France’s opening victory.
Following the match, the French Football Federation provided an update, confirming that Mbappe had indeed fractured his nose. Encouragingly for French supporters, they stated that he would not require immediate surgery. Instead, Mbappe will be fitted with a protective mask, a now-familiar sight in football, to allow him to potentially return to the pitch sooner. Despite this positive news, the quick turnaround between matches presents a significant challenge. France’s crucial next fixture against the Netherlands in Leipzig is just around the corner, and it is widely anticipated that the clash will come too soon for the 25-year-old superstar.
France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, faces a nervous wait. A win against the Netherlands would significantly boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stages, potentially even securing their place in the last 16. This scenario could afford Mbappe valuable time to recover fully, perhaps even allowing him to miss the final Group D match against Poland without jeopardizing France’s tournament ambitions. However, the question remains: can “Les Bleus” overcome a formidable Netherlands team without their arguably most potent attacking threat?
Midfielder Adrien Rabiot acknowledged the significance of Mbappe’s absence but expressed confidence in the squad’s depth. “Of course, he is an important player, the captain, a leader. So that will have an impact, but we have an exceptional squad,” Rabiot stated on Wednesday. He added, “I am not going to complain given the lads we have on the bench. We have more than enough options to replace Kylian. I have total confidence in the guys on the bench and the quality we have.” Rabiot’s words highlight the collective belief within the French camp, emphasizing their readiness to step up in Mbappe’s absence.
While France boasts considerable talent, Mbappe’s individual brilliance is undeniable. He currently ranks as his nation’s third-highest scorer with an impressive 47 goals in 80 appearances, trailing only Giroud and Thierry Henry. Although his recent scoring record for France has seen a slight dip, with only one goal in his last six matches (a friendly against Luxembourg), his impact extends far beyond goals. His influence was particularly evident at the last World Cup, where he scored eight goals, half of France’s total, including a memorable hat-trick in the final against Argentina.
Mbappe’s prowess against the Netherlands is also noteworthy. During the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, France faced the Dutch twice, and Mbappe delivered a brace in both encounters – a 4-0 victory in Paris and a 2-1 win in Amsterdam. These performances underscore his ability to perform on the big stage and his specific threat to the upcoming opponents.
However, history offers mixed signals regarding France’s performance without Mbappe. In a friendly against Germany last September, where Mbappe started on the bench, France suffered a 2-1 defeat. Similarly, in their final pre-tournament friendly against Canada, a 0-0 draw ensued with Mbappe only making a late substitute appearance. These instances suggest that France’s attacking dynamism can be diminished without their talismanic forward.
Read more about Mbappe’s injury and the humorous mask suggestions he received: Injured Mbappé asks for mask ideas – and receives rollicking response
Giroud and Other Options to Fill Mbappe’s Void
France’s attacking threat undeniably changes without Mbappe leading the line. Notably, he is yet to score in the European Championship finals, even missing a crucial penalty in their last-16 defeat to Switzerland at Euro 2020. Against Austria, he also missed a clear-cut opportunity when through on goal. Despite this Euro goal drought, his overall impact and fear factor for opposing defenses remain significant.
The most straightforward solution for Deschamps to replace Mbappe would be to deploy Olivier Giroud from the start. While Giroud offers a different profile as a centre-forward compared to Mbappe’s pace and dribbling, his experience and aerial presence are valuable assets.
{width=246 height=164}Giroud, poised to join MLS after the tournament, brings a wealth of experience despite being 37 years old and recently nursing a minor groin issue. He played a crucial role in France’s World Cup campaign in Qatar, stepping up due to Karim Benzema’s late injury withdrawal. Giroud’s mindset remains team-focused, as he stated after the Austria game: “My mindset is always the same, to bring something to the team when the coach gives me the chance. Everyone knows I think about the collective before I think about myself.”
Another tactical adjustment could involve shifting Marcus Thuram from the left wing to a central striker position. However, Thuram’s international goalscoring record is modest, with only two goals in 20 caps, one of which was against Gibraltar. Randal Kolo Muani is another option, but his confidence might be fragile after a challenging season at PSG, often playing in Mbappe’s shadow.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Mbappe’s injury and attacking reshuffle, France’s performance against Austria revealed a solid foundation. The return of N’Golo Kante provided excellent defensive midfield cover, shielding a robust defense. This defensive solidity suggests that France possesses the resilience to navigate the group stage even with Mbappe sidelined, as they await their captain’s potential return later in the tournament.
(AFP)
