Kylian Mbappe sustained a nose injury in the opening match of Euro 2024 and has only managed to score one goal in the tournament so far.
As France prepares for their Euro 2024 semi-final against Spain on Tuesday, all eyes are on Mbappe, who has struggled to regain his usual form and fitness during this tournament. This match in Munich is particularly significant for Mbappe, as it marks his first major tournament as captain and comes just before he embarks on a new chapter of his career at Real Madrid.
At 25, Mbappe should be in his footballing prime, especially after his dream move to the reigning Champions League winners. Despite his earlier successes, including winning the World Cup at a young age and netting a hat-trick in the 2022 final in Qatar, he has not lived up to expectations in the European Championship.
Mbappe joined the French team after a challenging final season at Paris Saint-Germain, marred by a contentious departure and reduced playing time. Already dealing with physical setbacks and lacking his typical explosiveness, a broken nose in the opening game against Austria further hindered his performance.
He has scored only once at the Euros, and his showing in the quarter-final against Portugal in Hamburg was notably poor, possibly his worst in such a high-stakes game. Mbappe was substituted midway through extra time due to exhaustion and watched from the sidelines as his team won in the penalty shoot-out.
“He could have missed the tournament entirely, so we should see this in a positive light,” France’s coach Didier Deschamps told TF1 on Sunday. “Kylian is here, even if he’s not at full strength, and that affects how our opponents play against us.”
Spain might not be overly concerned, as Mbappe’s performance has been hindered by the protective mask he wears for his nose injury. The mask restricts his vision and limits his ability to compete for headers.
His lackluster form, along with that of vice-captain Antoine Griezmann, partly explains why France has only managed to score three goals in five games en route to the semi-finals. Mbappe’s sole goal was a penalty against Poland, with the other two being own goals.
Despite this, Mbappe’s teammates remain supportive. “I don’t think he’s having a tough time. He had a great season. We just need to support him when he’s not scoring,” said Randal Kolo Muani, who played alongside Mbappe at PSG. “Apart from his nose issue, he’s fine.”
Mbappe, France’s third-highest all-time scorer with 48 goals in 83 appearances, has netted only twice in his last nine caps. He has embraced his role as captain, a position he took over after Hugo Lloris retired following the 2022 World Cup.
Television cameras captured Mbappe delivering an inspiring speech to his teammates before the penalty shoot-out against Portugal, highlighting his leadership qualities. “Kylian is the player who scored three times in a World Cup final,” noted midfielder Youssouf Fofana. “When he talks about penalties, we listen.”
Mbappe has also shown his leadership off the pitch, using press conferences to voice his political views, such as his opposition to the far-right National Rally in French elections. While he is a natural leader, France is looking for goals from him more than anything else.
Mbappe will not face future club teammate Dani Carvajal, who is suspended following a red card against Germany in the quarter-finals. Whoever replaces Carvajal, Mbappe will aim to perform at his best and lead France to another final in a major tournament.
