Kylian Mbappe has been rushed to a German hospital to have surgery on his broken nose. The French Federation has confirmed that their star striker was taken to the University Hospital of Dusseldorf in an ambulance.
France beat Austria 1-0 courtesy of a Maximilian Wober own goal in their opening match of Euro 2024.
But the tie was marred by the injury to Mbappe, which came in the dying embers of the game.
The 25-year-old headed a cross in the Austria penalty area but his nose made contact with Kevin Danso’s shoulder on the followthrough.
Medics rushed on the field but they struggled to contain the blood gushing from Mbappe’s nose.
He left the pitch with his white France jersey drenched in blood.
Mbappe may be ruled out for the remainder of the tournament in what would be a huge blow to France’s hopes of winning the European Championship.
France manager Didier Deschamps said: “He’s not doing well. His nose got badly hit, that’s for sure. We need to check it out, but it seems quite complicated. Which is very unfortunate for us tonight.
“He didn’t get off lightly. It’s still to be seen [if he will play again]. At this stage, I can’t answer. I don’t know.”
Austria were on the attack while Olivier Giroud was being prepared to come on for Mbappe so the injured forward walked back onto the pitch and dropped to the ground.
The referee was forced to stop play and booked Mbappe for his action.
And ITV pundit Roy Keane was livid with the World Cup winner.
Keane said: “He gets an injury he’s gone back on the pitch when he’s trying to stop the play. He gone to sit on the pitch and I don’t like to see this.
“This is out of order, whether he’s been instructed by the manager to go back on. He’s had treatment he’s come off… to go back on and sit on the pitch, he deserved to get a yellow card and I don’t like to see it.”
Gary Neville added: “To be fair he’ll look back and I think he’ll be disappointed because he looks at Deschamps and Deschamps has gone get on and I think he’ll feel like he’s let himself down.”
