Collisions on the football pitch are part and parcel of the game, just that the way France’s superstar Kylian Mbappe was left with a bloodied nose sent shock waves through the fans watching Euro 2024. The Real Madrid star suffered a collision, in what looked an attempted head-butt, with Kevin Danso’s (Austria) shoulder, on Monday night. Sight of blood gushing from his nose did not make for great viewing on television. For the record, France won the Group D match 1-0.
If football has referees who are ruthless and inhuman, there was proof of it from Monday night’s incident. Mbappe had badly hurt his nose, proof being the blood stained white T-shirt, with the No.10 number being famous. He was in shock and had been taken to the sidelines, before returning for the match. What seemed crazy was the referee booked him (yellow card) for delaying the game. Anyone who saw this will vouch, this was crazy stuff unfolding. He was eventually allowed to go off in the closing stages of the match, with the Olivier Giroud replacing him.
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France next face Netherlands on Friday and whether or not he will be available is a suspense. It is learnt, Mbappe had been taken to a hospital in Dusseldorf, Germany for a nose surgery. Didier Deschamps, the France manager said later: “He’s got a really bad nose,” said France manager Didier Deschamps, later. “We’ll have to wait and see. The medical staff are dealing with it. We’ll have to see what’s going to be done and then how long it will take. It’s very bad news for us tonight,” he told the reporters. Later, the French football federation confirmed, Mbappe would indeed undergo surgery.
There is intense speculation, Mbappe, the talismanic captain of Les Bleus will miss the remainder of the Euro 2024, if he is not fit. In the build-up to Euro 2024, Kylian Mbappe has been hyped enormously, even though some Austrian fans did not behave at their best when his nose was bleeding. France are touted as a Euro 2024 favourite and minus Mbappe, it could be a disaster,
More updates could come up on Tuesday morning from Dusseldorf.
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