An injury and many questions. Monday evening, in Düsseldorf, Kylian Mbappé was the victim in the 86th minute of a violent collision with Austrian defender Kevin Danso during the Blues’ first meeting at Euro 2024. An impressive injury, the images of which have already made the tour of the planet, but which could ultimately prove less serious than expected for the captain of the Blues. We summarize the situation.
What happened ?
We are playing the 86th minute of the Blues’ first match at Euro 2024. Rather solid, France is only one goal ahead of Austria and gets a corner. In an aerial duel with Austrian defender Kevin Danso, Kylian Mbappé headers the ball before receiving Danso’s shoulder in the face.
The captain of the Blues then immediately collapsed to the ground, touching his nose, proof that he had not lost consciousness. The images then show his very swollen, bloody nose and a nasal septum which seems deviated. Mbappé remains on the pitch for several minutes, inspected by the Blues medical staff, and then bleeds profusely.
Before returning to the bench to be replaced, the Frenchman then showed a little vice by returning to the pitch when he was not authorized to resume play. This had the consequence of stopping the match while France was one player down – and therefore allowed his replacement – but cost him a yellow card.
What is he suffering from?
As soon as he returned to the bench, the French team doctor Franck Le Gall reported to Didier Deschamps, according to information from TF1, a suspected broken nose. The images ultimately leave little room for doubt. Quickly, after closer inspection in the locker room, this fracture with displacement of the nasal septum was confirmed.
The question is then to know “if it is only the nasal septum which is affected”, explained Monday evening the former doctor of the Blues Fabrice Bryand to La Chaîne l’Équipe, in which case “it will have to be put back in place “, or if the injury is more serious than imagined. At a press conference, just after the match, Didier Deschamps was very cautious: “He has a damaged nose. It seems complicated (…) There, I am silent, I do not have the elements. If the news is not good, we will fight without him. »
Very quickly after the meeting, Kylian Mbappé was taken to Dusseldörf University Hospital to undergo an examination.
Should he have surgery?
This was the fear of the Blues staff, because an operation would necessarily have meant a longer healing period. But, according to our information quickly confirmed by the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, the scan carried out around midnight was reassuring and Mbappé will not be operated on, at least not “immediately”.
Around 2 a.m., around the time the player joined his teammates at the Paderborn base camp, the FFF communicated to this effect. “The captain of the French team was first taken care of by the medical staff and the doctor Franck Le Gall, who diagnosed a broken nose. Diagnosis confirmed during radiological examinations taken at the Düsseldorf hospital (…) He will receive treatment in the coming days, without undergoing surgical intervention immediately. »
The press release also specifies that a “mask” must be made for the Blues striker in order to “consider a resumption of competition after a period devoted to treatment”. News which inspired a humorous and reassuring tweet from Kylian Mbappé a few minutes before this press release: “any ideas for masks? »
When will he be able to play again?
This is obviously the whole question: how long will this “period dedicated to care” mentioned by the French Federation last? Even though there was no operation, Mbappé’s nose was put back in place and requires a healing period, the duration of which is currently unknown.
According to our information, Mbappé’s wish is to play again from the match against the Netherlands on Friday (9 p.m.). But he will obviously be subject to the evolution of his injury, the opinion of the Blues medical staff and the decision of the coach, Didier Deschamps. The latter could estimate that the victory against Austria brings the Blues sufficiently close to qualifying for the round of 16 – as a reminder, the four best third-place finishers are also qualified – that it would not be particularly risky from a sporting point of view to extend this “period dedicated to care” mentioned by the Federation and leave a few more days of rest for Mbappé. As a reminder, France will then face Poland on June 25 for its last group match before a possible round of 16 around the 30th.
This season, several players returned to competition just days after breaking their noses without having undergone surgery. This was the case, for example, of the Nice goalkeeper, the Pole Marcin Bulka, or the Stéphanois Cafaro. “It’s a little annoying to breathe and sleep, but with the protections, it’s not a problem,” explained Bixente Lizarazu on TF1 after the match, who has suffered similar injuries several times in his career.
