Kylian Mbappé Avoids Surgery After Fractured Nose in France's Euro 2024 Opener

France superstar Kylian Mbappé sustained a fractured nose in Les Bleus' 1-0 victory over Austria in their opening Euro 2024 match on Monday. Despite initial reports suggesting the need for surgery, further examinations revealed that surgery could be avoided, according to soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano. However, the severity of Mbappé's injury and his availability for France's upcoming group stage games remain uncertain.

Kylian Mbappé, the talismanic captain of the French national team, suffered a broken nose during their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Austria in the opening match of Euro 2024 on Monday. The incident occurred late in the game when Mbappé collided with Austria's Kevin Danso, resulting in a visibly bloody nose and leaving him in apparent discomfort on the pitch.

Kylian Mbappé Avoids Surgery After Fractured Nose in France's Euro 2024 Opener

Despite his pain, Mbappé initially attempted to continue playing after receiving medical attention. However, he soon collapsed to the ground, clutching his face, prompting whistles and jeers from the Austrian crowd. The referee subsequently issued a yellow card to Mbappé for entering the field without permission, and he was replaced by Olivier Giroud.

Mbappé's injury marked a significant moment in the history of the European Championship, as it was the first time a France captain had been forced to leave a game due to injury. The incident also raised concerns about the 25-year-old's availability for France's remaining two group stage matches against the Netherlands and Poland.

The French national team had initially feared that Mbappé's injury would require surgery, but subsequent examinations at a local hospital in Germany ruled out such a need. However, it remains unclear what role Mbappé will play in his team's upcoming fixtures.

Mbappé played a pivotal role in France's opening goal, with his cross leading to an own goal by Austria's Maximilian Wober in the 37th minute. The goal proved to be decisive, handing France all three points in their Group D opener and Didier Deschamps his 100th win as national team coach.

Despite his injury, Mbappé missed a golden opportunity to score against Austria's goalkeeper Patrick Pentz in the 57th minute, which would have given him his first goal in the European Championship. France will now turn their attention to their next group stage match against the Netherlands on Friday, with coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.

As France strives to defend their Euro title, the extent of Mbappé's injury and his fitness for the upcoming matches will be closely monitored. The team will be eager to have their star player available as they aim to progress to the knockout stages and potentially retain their European crown.