Earlier this week, BD Cricket Live reporters were on site to witness a major Euro 2024 Group D showdown between title favorites France and Austria. While France scraped out a narrow opening win, their performance was far from convincing. More concerning than their lackluster attack, however, was the injury to star forward Kylian Mbappé—an incident that may reshape three major storylines of this summer’s tournament.
Given the disparity in squad value and individual talent, France’s win came as no surprise. But the match itself told a different story: France dominated possession but struggled to convert chances into goals. Outside of Mbappé, their frontline looked uninspired. Ousmane Dembélé once again channeled his inner “chaotic artist,” failing to deliver consistency. Marcus Thuram lacked presence and was ineffective as a target man, while Olivier Giroud, still pushing through with veteran grit, appeared to be showing his age.
France’s attacking line, at least in the opener, did not look significantly stronger than England’s. And with Erling Haaland missing in action during key moments for Norway, Mbappé had stepped into the spotlight as the world’s top center forward—making his injury all the more devastating.
Throughout the match, Mbappé’s pace and explosiveness were France’s most potent weapons. He was central to the lone goal, sending in the cross that led to Austria’s own goal. He also broke free for three clear chances, but strangely lacked his usual precision, missing all of them. Still, he was unquestionably the most dangerous player on the pitch. But disaster struck in the second half when he collided headfirst into an opponent’s shoulder while going for a header. Blood poured from his nose, and he was immediately subbed off.
Post-match, Didier Deschamps confirmed to BD Cricket Live that Mbappé had suffered a broken nose, calling the situation “very bad.” Even in the best-case scenario, a nasal fracture typically requires at least two weeks to recover. Whether Mbappé will be fit to play in the group stage—or even in the knockout rounds—is now a pressing question. His condition could reshape the tournament in three fundamental ways.
First, it casts serious doubt over France’s title hopes. Their success hinges on Mbappé’s form and availability. Second, it disrupts the race for the Ballon d’Or. If Mbappé is ruled out of Euro 2024, his chances of winning the prestigious award will plummet. And third, the overall spectacle of the tournament could take a hit. As the world’s most electrifying striker, Mbappé’s absence would be a loss not just for France, but for football fans everywhere.
BD Cricket Live users agree: while each player walks their own path, some losses are simply irreplaceable. And if Mbappé’s Euro 2024 journey ends here, it will be one of the biggest what-ifs of the summer—for France and for the sport as a whole.