Euro 2024: Mbappe injury scare mars France win over Austria

Kylian Mbappe produced a moment of magic – mixed with good fortune – to ensure France’s Euro 2024 campaign got off to a winning start against a stubborn Austria in Dusseldorf.

But he was also at the centre of a late injury scare.

France’s captain and Real Madrid’s latest “Galactico” was replaced in the 90th minute as an eventful night ended with him covered in blood following a painful blow to his nose after an aerial clash with Austria defender Kevin Danso. 

Mbappe also picked up a yellow card for returning to the field before falling to the ground, then going off.

He had a mixed night with his finishing but still delivered a decisive contribution to seal three important points against Ralf Rangnick’s well-drilled Austrian side.

France, one of the favourites for Euro 2024, deserved to win but how they were made to work for it by an Austria side showing exactly why they had lost only one of their last 16 matches.

Coach Didier Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches on the pitch and the bench and his team will be a huge threat at this tournament, above and beyond the threat provided by Mbappe.

It was, however, the performance of a member of France’s old guard making a return to the colours with selection for the Euros after a 21-month international exile that provided the glue with a superb exhibition of the defensive midfielder’s role.

Kante, a World Cup winner in 2018 and now playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad, showed precisely why Deschamps was so keen to have him back in the ranks with the sort of display that has been his hallmark over the years.

The 33-year-old rolled back plenty of those years as he provided a defensive shield, awareness and composure on the ball, exemplified by the manner in which he raced back to make up ground on Patrick Wimmer and snuff out danger late on.

Mbappe is nearly always the headline act when France play – and he was again for a variety of reasons – but Kante can stand alongside him at the top of the bill after his display in Dusseldorf.

bbc