Tag: Didier Deschamps

France coach Didier Deschamps on Monday revealed Kylian Mbappe was getting “better every day” but did not confirm if his captain would start Tuesday’s last Euro 2024 group game against Poland.

“He is doing better every day. He is doing better today than yesterday and the day before that. That is obvious because he has been training,” Deschamps told reporters in Dortmund, where France and Poland will meet in the Group D finale.

“The bruising has come down and he is getting used to the mask. He is as eager to play tomorrow as he was eager to play against the Netherlands.”

Kylian Mbappe did not play any part in last Friday’s 0-0 draw with the Netherlands in Leipzig after suffering the broken nose late in his team’s opening 1-0 win over Austria in Duesseldorf a week ago.

He did not undergo an operation on the injury but will need to wear the protective mask when he returns to the side.

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Didier Deschamps added: “He does not find that the mask limits him but it does restrict his vision a little. He needs to get used to it, even though the technology nowadays allows these masks to be as thin as possible.”

France come into the game in second place in the group and with their place in Euro 2024 last 16 in little doubt.

However, the 2022 World Cup runners-up need to better the Netherlands’ result at the same time against Austria — or at least win by a wider margin — in order to take top spot.

They are keen to get Kylian Mbappe back on the pitch given their only goal so far in two matches was an own goal.

“We all know how good a finisher Kylian is,” said N’Golo Kante, alongside his coach at Monday’s press conference.

“It is a massive plus for us to have Kylian. I had sort of forgotten he was wearing a mask.

“He helped us win our training game today. He looked dangerous and was decisive. He feels good and I hope that will be the case during the match.”

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France coach Didier Deschamps has cast doubt on Kylian Mbappe’s chances of representing his country at this year’s Paris Olympics, saying that it would be “very difficult” to compete at the Games straight after Euro 2024.

“It is very difficult from a psychological and physical viewpoint to take part in two competitions like that one after the other, in the summer, without having any holiday,” Deschamps admitted on Thursday.

The France coach confirmed that some members of his squad for the European Championship are likely to also feature in the Olympics squad, which will be named by Thierry Henry.

However, Deschamps said the Euro “remains the priority” and that the identities of those players featuring at the Olympics would need to be known before the continental championship, which starts on June 14.

“We don’t want any interference with our preparations, so once we are in our training camp at Clairefontaine, it needs to be clear who is going and who is not going,” Deschamps said.

It is understood that Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, the France captain, is very keen to represent his country at the Olympics, along with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.

Yet the European Championship in Germany does not finish until July 14, with the Olympic football tournament beginning on July 24.

That means there would be no time for a break in between, at least if France go deep into the Euro.

Men’s football at the Summer Games is for players aged under 23, although three overage players can feature too, paving the way for the 25-year-old Mbappe and other senior French stars to take part.

However, football’s world governing body FIFA does not oblige clubs to release players for the Olympics, which could complicate Mbappe’s situation even more.

The forward has already told PSG he plans to leave when his contract expires at the end of this season and Real Madrid is expected to be his next destination.

His new club is unlikely to be thrilled at the prospect of Mbappe going to the Games rather than taking a holiday ahead of the start of the new season — the final of the Olympic tournament is set for August 9.

France legend Henry is currently in charge of the national Under-21 side and will oversee the team at the Olympics.

He accepts that whether Kylian Mbappe features in the squad does not ultimately come down to him.

“I have no certainties. I am at the mercy of a yes or a no from a club,” Henry said on Thursday.

“And then if they agree and then change coach in the meantime, who is to say I would still have him?”

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