Kylian Mbappe’s nose injury is “not good at all” after the France captain was forced off in the latter stages of his side’s Euro 2024 group stage victory against Austria.
The forward was then shown a yellow card for re-entering the pitch after receiving treatment without the permission of referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
Mbappe sustained the injury in the 86th minute after colliding with the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso as he contested an aerial ball.
The 25-year-old was seen bleeding heavily from his nose as he was attended to by medical staff on the pitch. His France shirt was also stained with blood following the injury.
Mbappe left the field of play to receive further treatment while Austria made a substitute and Youssouf Fofan and Olivier Giroud were readied to come on for France.
However, Austria then re-started play with a throw-in and Mbappe returned to the pitch while still bleeding and without changing into a clean shirt and immediately sat down in the Austria half of the pitch.
He was booked by Gil Manzano before being replaced by Giroud.
Asked by French television channel TF1 if the fear is a broken nose, Deschamps said: “Apparently yes, his nose is not good at all.
“So we’ll see. It’s obviously the negative point of the evening. Even if it’s just his nose it’s annoying for us.”
Mbappe was forced off in the closing stages in Dusseldorf (Emin Sansar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Asked how they could replace his skipper in the event he misses time, he said: “Not going to go into hypothesis. French team with Kylian will always be stronger with him.
“If you lose him, have to go without him. But Kylian is Kylian.”
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game state the referee must ensure “that any player bleeding leaves the field of play. The player may only re-enter on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on the equipment.
“If the referee has authorised the doctors and/or stretcher bearers to enter the field of play, the player must leave on a stretcher or on foot. A player who does not comply must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.”
If Mbappe is booked again between now and the end of the quarter-finals he will be suspended for the next game. Yellow cards are wiped at the conclusion of the quarter-finals.
France beat Austria 1-0 at the Dusseldorf Arena after Maximilian Wober’s first-half own goal.
“It’s good to start with a victory against a really good opponent a lot of athletic qualities, put a lot of pressure on our team,” Deschamps said.
“We could and should have got the lead earlier. Could have transformed certain occasions. Overall assess it as positive.
“We had to fight, but this is important. It’s a common denominator in these matches. It’s so intense.”
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Austria 0 France 1 – Mbappe’s bloodied nose, pitch problems, Deschamps’ dilemma
(Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)