Kylian Mbappe will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness for France’s Euro 2024 showdown with the Netherlands as he prepares to play with a protective mask over his broken nose.
The 25-year-old skipper suffered the injury in his side’s 1-0 Group D victory over Austria in their opening fixture on Monday but has not yet been ruled out of Friday’s clash with the Dutch in Leipzig.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, head coach Didier Deschamps said: “Everything is going in the right direction after this major shock with the consequences.
🥷🇫🇷#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/LghAKemHKf
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 20, 2024
“Yesterday he went out, he did a little activity. This will also be the case this evening. Things are moving in the right direction to ensure that he is available tomorrow.”
World Cup finalists France would book their place in the last 16 with victory over Ronald Koeman’s side, who go into the game also having banked three points, in their case courtesy of a 2-1 win over Poland.
Whether Mbappe plays or not – he wore a red white and blue mask for the start of training on Thursday evening – Deschamps insists his team will take the game to the Netherlands.
He said: “We may have to defend, but that should not be our first objective, even if we must be able to do it when necessary. First you have to go forward and give them problems.
“We will aim to put the Dutch team in difficulty, knowing that they have the capacity to bring danger.
“We achieved our objective of winning the first game, but now – as is also the case for the Dutch – it is about winning this game and qualifying. As for any coach, it’s about ensuring we perform as well as possible and are as dangerous as we can be for the opposition.”
Opposite number Koeman will send his troops into battle demanding a 90-minute performance after seeing them come from behind to beat the Poles courtesy of substitute Wout Weghorst’s late strike.
https://t.co/MbZA66jnwE pic.twitter.com/oOhOwkkxVr
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 20, 2024
Koeman said: “The lesson we learned against Poland was that that we have to play at a high level for 90 minutes, not just 60.
“Also that you have to be patient and always have in the back of your mind what could happen if you lose the ball.”
The Dutch face Austria in Berlin on Tuesday, while the French head for Dortmund to meet Poland in the final round of group games.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
