Third Face Mask For Kylian Mbappe In Three Euro 2024 Matches; Here’s What Bothering French Football Captain
Duesseldorf: Kylian Mbappe is struggling with his face mask in the ongoing Euro 2024 as the France footballer is having difficulties with his peripheral vision. Mbappe broke his nose in a nasty collision in their campaign opener against Austria when he collided with opposition defender Kevin Danso. Soon after the injury, it was decided that Mbappe would need to wear a face mask to continue in the tournament as it would prevent him from any further injury.
Mbappe has had more masks than goals at the European Championship. He wore a third different mask on Monday in the 1-0 win against Belgium in the round of 16. The striker failed to hit the target in five attempts on goal against Belgium. He has only one goal in the tournament.
“You’ve got the sweat aspect and we know sweat can get in his eyes. He’s getting used to it, but it can affect his vision,” coach Didier Deschamps said. “Everything in front of him is fine, but there’s a delay with his peripheral vision.” However, Mbappe described the mask-wearing experience as ‘an absolute horror’. His only score so far was a penalty against Poland. “I saw people but I had the feeling it was not me that was playing,” he said after that game.
Mbappe was initially fitted with a custom-made mask that was designed in the colors of the French flag. But UEFA rules state protective equipment has to be a single color, and he switched to an all black version against Poland. He changed it again for the knockout game against Belgium with a version that appeared to be more custom-cut to the contours of his face. It also had more ventilation than his previous masks and was held on with one strap, rather than two.
But it didn’t seem to make a lot of difference, with Mbappe’s shooting often wide of the mark. It could be a problem for Real Madrid if Mbappe still requires a mask at the start of next season after he completed a move to the Spanish giant last month. Before that, Mbappe and France have a quarterfinal against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Friday. It is the first time World Cup winner Mbappe has gone this far at a Euros after France lost in the last 16 in 2021 to Switzerland after a penalty shootout.
With AP Inputs