Kylian Mbappe is leading France into their Euro 2024 semifinal match against Spain, taking the field at the Munich Football Arena in Germany without his face mask. Despite sustaining a broken nose in France’s opening victory against Austria, Mbappe had been playing with a mask to protect the injury. However, he revealed that the mask was hindering his peripheral vision, making it difficult to see clearly on the pitch.
Coach Didier Deschamps had expressed optimism about Mbappe’s ability to play with the mask, acknowledging the potential for sweat affecting his vision. While Mbappe has been adapting to the mask throughout the tournament, the discomfort and impact on his vision ultimately led to the decision to play without it.
Mbappe, who recently made a high-profile move to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, scored his first-ever Euro goal in the group stage against Poland. This is his first time leading France in a major tournament, adding another layer of significance to his performance.
