France coach Didier Deschamps highlighted the problems Kylian Mbappe faced wearing a mask to protect his broken nose in the 1-1 draw with Poland at the European Championship on Tuesday.
Mbappe scored a second-half penalty to mark his return to France's starting lineup, eight days after suffering the bloody injury late in the 1-0 win over Austria on June 17.
Deschamps said ahead of the game that Mbappe's peripheral vision would be limited because of the mask, but there were other issues on a hot day in Dortmund, too.
"Despite everything he has gone through, a week after the blow, it was complicated," Deschamps told reporters through a translator. "I thought he was quite good on his feet with the mask. He needed to get used to it.
"But when he sweats, that sticks in his eyes and he needed to wipe his eyes."
Kylian Mbappe encountered some problems with his new mask against Poland, France coach Didier Deschamps said.
Still, Deschamps was happy with Mbappe's performance, having left the Real Madrid-bound striker on for the full game -- first as a central striker and then on the left wing.
"He's hungry to play and the game would have done him some good," Deschamps said, "especially given what we're going to be doing [next]."
Mbappe's goal wasn't enough for a victory on Tuesday, and it wasn't enough to solve France's growing problems at Euro 2024.
Mbappe removed his protective mask to celebrate in front of his team's fans after converting a 56th-minute penalty.
But Robert Lewandowski secured a 1-1 draw for Poland with a 79th-minute spot kick that he got to take twice, leaving the French as the runners-up to Austria in Group D and dropping them into the same half of the draw as Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, host nation Germany and Spain -- three of the continent's heavyweight nations.
Austria beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a match played at the same time.
The result also means France have yet to score an open-play goal at Euro 2024, having beaten Austria 1-0 on an own goal and then drawn 0-0 with the Dutch -- when Mbappe was missing after breaking his nose against the Austrians.
Les Bleus have advanced, but they haven't been convincing.
"I would be a lot more concerned if there were no chances, but obviously there is a little bit of room for improvement," Deschamps said. "Maybe there are other teams who have given off something a bit different, but the fact we haven't scored limits our performance. We are here where we want to be."
Still, Deschamps admitted he is hoping they can rediscover the impressive scoring form they showed in qualifying.
"We need to score more goals, we need to be more clinical, and I am looking for that," Deschamps said. "We can improve but that's it. We need to hit them where it hurts but we have always had a goal average that is quite impressive, for these three games it hasn't quite been there.
"But I am positive, I am always positive. It is a new competition starting for us."
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Saka vs Slovakia France 1-0 BelgiumBye Belgium PORTUGAL VS. FRANCE IN THE EUROS QUARTERFINALS France take down Belgium to reach the Euro 2024 quarterfinals Tag a Portuguese & Say Nothing.. Thoughts on France's EURO 2024 so far.. END OF AN ERA. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, BleacherReportFootball, AZRor...
Bayern Munich ace Joshua Kimmich is unsettled and wants a transfer, with the Germany star already having made his preference clear once Euro 2024 is overJoshua Kimmich has won it all at Bayern Munich and now he wants a new challenge (Image: AFP via Getty Images)Unsettled Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich is hell-bent on joining Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.Liverpool and Arsenal are also being ...
Juventus remain determined to retain the services of Adrien Rabiot amid interest from AC Milan and Liverpool.Juventus want to retain Rabiot Liverpool and AC Milan interested Midfielder is currently a free agentWHAT HAPPENED?The French midfielder is a free agent at the moment after his Juventus contract expired on June 30. The player is tipped to join another club ahead of the 2024-25 season, howev...
Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't hold back the tears after missing a penalty in the first half of extra-time against Slovenia.Ronaldo broke down after missing a penaltyFans mocked Portugal legend on social mediaSelecao set to face France in the quarter-finalWHAT HAPPENED?The stage was set for the 39-year-old to score a record-breaking goal and guide his team to the quarter-final of Euro 2024 as Portugal...
Bayern closing in on signing Xavi SimonsAccording to Sky Sport in Germany, Bayern Munich have reportedly agreed personal terms with Xavi Simons' representatives and are hopeful of landing the Netherlands international this summer.The former Bundesliga champions will now negotiate terms with Paris Saint-Germain as the player still has a contract with them until 2027.Liverpool and AC Milan-linked Ra...
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved three penalties in the shoot-out against Slovenia, after Cristiano Ronaldo had missed one in extra-time, to send his side into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after a night of high drama in Frankfurt.Slovenia, the lowest ranked side left in the competition, had battled their way through a goalless 90 minutes, and went close themselves through Benjamin Sesko.Ro...
Jan Vertonghen’s 85th-minute own goal was the fatal blow for Belgium, who were knocked out of Euro 2024 after a 1-0 last-16 defeat to France in Dusseldorf.France, who have yet to net a goal in open play, have struggled to find the back of the net, coming out of the group stage having scored the fewest goals in an opening round since the 2010 World Cup.Didier Deschamps’ men might have w...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Thank you Jude England 2-1 Slovakia 90+4" England v Slovakia Switzerland 2-0 Italy belike Oh well The England vs Slovakia referee: lol Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, FootballLaughss)...
We revealed in May how the Blues were looking to snatch Boca Juniors ace Aaron Anselmino, 19, from under the noses of United.Chelsea have won the race to sign Aaron Anselmino from Boca JuniorsThe Red Devils had scouted him for months and was first linked with a move to Old Trafford and then AC Milan earlier this year.The 6ft 2in defender made his senior debut for Boca just over a year ago only mon...
The Manchester City boss is understood to be impressed by his ability to play out from the back — and his defensive qualities.Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Jarrad BranthwaiteOld Trafford rival Erik ten Hag also wants the 22-year-old but United’s opening £35m bid was laughed off by the Toffees.Pep is thought to be pondering a move for Branthwaite, alt...
- 1 Moment topless Italian fan waves flag out of car window and jiggles bum
- 2 Grealish boards private jet in Cannes after donning dodgy wig in St Tropez
- 3 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 4 Daily Laugh - Switzerland 2-0 Italy
- 5 Belgian WAGs fume about their set 'cuddle time' by the boss at Euro 2024
- 6 Lauryn Goodman shares bikini pic lounging on a yacht
- 7 Gareth Southgate praises England for invoking spirit of 1966 after dramatic win
- 8 Glamorous Ecuador fan in just bikini and fishnet stockings
- 9 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 10 Daily Laugh - Arsenal and Juve eye Calafiori