Kylian Mbappé scores but encounters issues wearing protective mask on return for France at Euro 2024
Kylian Mbappe of France applauds on the pitch after a Group D match between France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — France coach Didier Deschamps highlighted the problems Kylian Mbappé faced wearing a mask to protect his broken nose in the 1-1 draw with Poland at the European Championship on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappe of France falls with Poland's Pawel Dawidowicz during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Mbappé scored a second-half penalty to mark his return to France’s starting lineup, eight days after sustaining the bloody injury late in the 1-0 win over Austria on June 17.
Deschamps said ahead of the game that Mbappé's peripheral vision would be limited because of the mask but there were other issues on a hot day in Dortmund, too.
“Despite everything he has gone through, a week after the blow, it was complicated,” Deschamps said through a translator. "I thought he was quite good on his feet with the mask. He needed to get used to it.
Kylian Mbappe of France during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
“But when he sweats, that sticks in his eyes and he needed to wipe his eyes.”
Still, Deschamps was happy with Mbappé's performance, having left the Real Madrid-bound striker on for the full game — first as a central striker and then on the left wing.
Kylian Mbappe of France collides with Poland's Pawel Dawidowicz during a Group D match between France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
“He’s hungry to play and the game would have done him some good," Deschamps said, "especially given what we’re going to be doing (next)."
Kylian Mbappe of France fights for the ball against Poland's Jakub Moder during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
France potentially faces tougher tests at Euro 2024, with host Germany, Portugal and Spain — arguably the most impressive team at the tournament so far — in France's half of the draw in the knockout stage.
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
Steve Douglas, The Associated Press
Kylian Mbappe of France is tackled by Poland's Pawel Dawidowicz during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Kylian Mbappe of France, left, speaks with referee Marco Guida during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Kylian Mbappe of France, right, gestures during a Group D match between France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Kylian Mbappe of France, right, is defended by Poland's Przemyslaw Frankowski during a Group D match between France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)