France boss Didier Deschamps has made a worrying admission over Kylian Mbappe’s fitness ahead of the Euro 2024 semi-final against Spain.
France head into the semi-final clash as slight favourites against Spain who have been praised as one of the tournament’s top teams.
Deschamps’ men have been solid at the back but their attack has failed to set the tournament alight, failing to score a single goal from open play despite possessing world-class forwards in their ranks.
Advert
Mbappe in particular has struggled after suffering a sickening broken nose injury in the opening game against Austria.
The now Real Madrid forward has one goal to his name which came from the penalty spot and France have been told he ‘cannot play’ in the huge game against Spain.
It comes from French legend Frank Leboeuf who has called for the forward to be dropped as a result of his poor showings.
Advert
“He’s been struggling for a while. Because of his injury he has an excuse but before that he was struggling with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League,” he told ESPN.
“So, it’s not the Mbappe that we have seen. Because of his injury, I think he is not capable of playing at the top level. Whether he should play or not [is not my decision]. For the best of everybody, right now he shouldn’t play. It is a big statement.
“He’s not at 100 per cent, he’s maybe at 50, 60 per cent of his possibility because of the mask, because of his injury and everything.
“It’s not the Mbappe that we were expecting, so therefore for me, for him and for the national team he shouldn’t play because he doesn’t serve the country and the team like he should do and it’s not even his fault.
Advert
“He’s injured, he has a broken nose, he has a problem with the mask, he shouldn’t play. I think it’s a breathing issue on top of a vision issue.
“I have nothing against Mbappe, 100 per cent he should play [if fit]. I’m the first fan and I have been criticised by people who say, ‘stop defending Mbappe’. I really love the player, he’s a fantastic player but you cannot play right now.”
Leboeuf’s comments come after Deschamps made a worrying admission over their star forward.
Advert
Mbappe admitted he ‘hates’ wearing the ‘horrible’ mask that has allowed him to play despite suffering the injury and his manager admitted he’s not been his usual self.
Deschamps said: “He came off [against Portugal] after 110 minutes because the extra-time was tough for him, like it was tough for everyone. Kylian had a back issue at the end of the season - and then he took that blow to his nose.
“So he has been slightly off his game - but he will be on the pitch and we have done everything we can to make sure Kylian is in the right headspace for this game.”
Topics: France, Spain, Kylian Mbappe, Euro 2024, Didier Deschamps, Injury
Marcus Banks