France opened play at the European Championship on Monday with a 1-0 victory over Austria, but left the match with concerns over the injury of star striker Kylian Mbappe.
With France leading, 1-0 in the final minutes of the match, Mbappé’s nose was bloodied after a collision, forcing him to leave the match. French coach Didier Deschamps said after the match that Mbappé had probably broken his nose.
“Yes, Kylian Mbappé probably broke his nose,” Deschamps said.
Mbappé’s status at the European Championship was not immediately clear.
The contact occurred when Mbappé headed the ball on a set piece in front of the Austria goal. When Mbappé headed in, his face collided with the shoulder of Austrian Kevin Danso.
The contact left Mbappé’s nose bloodied and disfigured.
Mbappé then attempted to return to the field in the 89th minute and immediately sat back down on the grass covering his nose. He had returned to the game without permission from the referees, who gave him a yellow card.
France won 1-0. Mbappé’s status in terms of injury and his yellow card are concerns going forward in the Euros. If Mbappé is able to return to play with his injury, he will risk receiving a one-match ban and another yellow card.
France won on Monday with an own goal by Austrian Maximilian Wöber after a pass from Mbappé.
France is scheduled to play the Netherlands in the group stage on Friday.
