June 23, (THEWILL) – Kylian Mbappe is making progress in his recovery from a broken nose but the France’s star forward’s availability for the team’s final Euro 2024 group match remains unclear. Coach Didier Deschamps provided an update on Mbappe’s condition during a recent television appearance, stating that the 25-year-old’s recovery is “going in the right direction”.
Mbappe broke his nose during France’s opening match against Austria last Monday. He was subsequently sidelined for the team’s 0-0 draw with the Netherlands on Friday. Deschamps refrained from confirming whether Mbappe would feature in Tuesday’s clash against Poland in Dortmund, maintaining an air of uncertainty around the captain’s status.
The absence of Mbappe has coincided with a goal drought for the French side, who have managed to score only once in their last three matches. This solitary goal came courtesy of an Austrian own goal in their Group D opener in Duesseldorf. The team’s recent offensive struggles have become a topic of intense scrutiny in French media circles.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Mbappe’s participation, his teammates have reported positive signs from recent training sessions. Defender Jonathan Clauss noted that Mbappe was “100% at it” during a Saturday scrimmage against a local academy team, where he managed to score whilst wearing his protective mask.
As France look to secure their place in the knockout stages, all eyes will be on Deschamps’ team selection for the crucial match against Poland. With four points already in the bag, France appear poised to advance, but questions remain about their attacking quality in Mbappe’s potential absence.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
