DUSSELDORF, Germany (AP) 鈥� Kylian Mbapp茅 was due to have tests on his broken nose on Wednesday as France tried to assess what part he could play in the European Championship.
The World Cup winner sustained the injury during his team's on Monday and will have to if he plays on at the tournament.
鈥淭here will be more tests tomorrow to see how things are developing. Obviously it was a big collision," France coach Didier Deschamps said Tuesday. "The medical staff have done what they needed to reduce it as much as possible. This morning he was a bit better, so we will see that and we will follow it closely each day.鈥�
France plays the Netherlands in its second game of Euro 2024 on Friday. It was not known if Mbapp茅 would be able to play after his face collided with the shoulder Austria鈥檚 Kevin Danso as he attempted a header late in the Group D match at Dusseldorf Arena.
The French Football Federation said it had received 鈥減ositive鈥� news about Mbapp茅鈥檚 chances of continuing at the tournament as he will not need immediate surgery. But it did not specify how long it would be before he is able to play again.
鈥淭he news is rather reassuring so far as there are no operations planned for the immediate future. As for his participation in the rest of the tournament, it鈥檚 a bit too early to give a timetable,鈥� federation president Philippe Diallo said.
Mbapp茅 stayed on the ground after the aerial collision with Danso. His nose was badly swollen and blood poured, turning parts of his white jersey red.
Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz signaled for urgent medical assistance.
He was treated by team doctor Franck Le Gall and then went to Dusseldorf hospital.
鈥淭hey tried to reduce the aftermath of his fracture, for him to be able to stay in the tournament,鈥� Diallo said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l wait until the end of the day to see how things develop. But all in all, I鈥檇 say the information was pretty positive.鈥�
The federation said a mask would be made to allow Mbapp茅 to 鈥渃onsider resuming competition after a period devoted to treatment.鈥�
Mbapp茅鈥檚 injury is a big deal for France, as the country鈥檚 captain, its best player and one of the biggest stars of the tournament. It鈥檚 a concern for Real Madrid, too, after he left Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent in the offseason.
Mbapp茅 is widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world and led his country to the World Cup title in 2018 at the age of 19.
He became only the second player in history to score a hat trick in a World Cup final four years later in Qatar as France was runner-up to Messi鈥檚 Argentina.
Champions League winner Madrid ended its years-long pursuit of Mbapp茅 earlier this month and he will join its roster of superstars, which includes Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
France鈥檚 priority will be to get him back on the field and leading its bid to win a record-equalling third Euros. Madrid will want him in peak condition for the start of the season and Mbapp茅 already indicated this week that his new club , where the men鈥檚 final is Aug. 9.
If Mbapp茅 is to play on at the Euros, he will need to wear the type of protective face mask worn by Son Heung-min and Josko Gvardiol at the World Cup in 2022.
But the speed of his return will depend on the level of discomfort he feels.
A broken nose can take weeks to heal and the National Health Service in the U.K. says sport should be avoided for 鈥渁t least six weeks if there鈥檚 a chance your face might be hit.鈥�
Mbappe returned to the team鈥檚 training camp to join up with the rest of the squad and appeared to see the lighter side of his injury.
鈥淎ny ideas for masks?鈥� he posted on X.
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AP Euro 2024:
James Robson, The Associated Press
