France secured a 1-0 victory over Austria in their opening Group D clash of Euro 2024 at the Dusseldorf Arena in Germany. However, the match was marred by an injury to star forward Kylian Mbappe, who was substituted off in the 90th minute.
Mbappe, making his first appearance as captain in a major international tournament, went down in the 86th minute after a collision with Austrian defender Kevin Danso. The impact left Mbappe bleeding, requiring immediate medical attention. After a brief period of treatment, he was replaced by Oliver Giroud.
The incident occurred during a free-kick situation. Antoine Griezmann delivered a cross into the box, which Mbappe attempted to head. However, he was caught by Danso’s shoulder and subsequently fell to the ground. The referee halted play, and after receiving treatment for the bleeding, Mbappe was withdrawn from the match.
This was Mbappe’s 80th cap for France, but despite a promising performance, he failed to find the back of the net. He missed two clear goal-scoring opportunities, extending his goalless streak in the Euros.
Mbappe’s substitution and the potential severity of his injury will be a major concern for France as they progress through the tournament. His absence could significantly impact their attacking potency.
