Is Kylian Mbappe Playing Tonight for France vs Poland?

It’s safe to say that the French were toothless in the attack against a resolute Netherlands defense.  If it wasn’t for a controversial goal being ruled out for the Dutch, Les Blues might have tasted defeat already! As such, supporters are anxious to get an update on Kylian Mbappe. The prolific Frenchman suffered a brutal nose fracture after colliding with Kevin Danso of Austria. With Mbappe having been spotted at training since, will the new Real Madrid star be fit to face Poland? Let’s dive in.

As it stands, Kylian Mbappe’s participation against Austria is unclear. According to ESPN, the Frenchman wants to play and is keen to get in the starting XI. But, there were similar reports that the winger was set to start against Netherlands. Hence, it’s too early to get excited by the news.

Initially, Kylian Mbappe was expected to undergo surgery. Later, the French Federation denied the claims and added that their talisman would undergo treatment. This meant that the winger would play the remaining matches with a mask. Soon, images emerged of Kylian Mbappe donning a French-themed face mask. As such, excitement arose that the winger would be ready to take on Virgil Van Dijk & Co. Disappointingly, the Frenchman watched from the sidelines as the likes of Dembele and Griezmann missed chances galore!

Recently, teammate Kingsley Coman had an encouraging update regarding his teammate. The Bayern Munich star said, “It’s getting better.” Later, manager Didier Deschamps joined in and revealed his plan for Kylian Mbappe.

Here’s what Didier Deschamps said regarding Kylian Mbappe’s participation against Poland

Disappointing the supporters, Didier Deschamps did not reveal whether Kylian Mbappe would play a part against Poland. However, he did have rather positive news regarding the winger’s recovery. The coach said, “You will see [whether he plays or not] but everything is going in the right direction, he is recovering from the blow, the bruising is decreasing every day, and he will get used to his mask. He is doing well.”

The French tactician was also asked whether he was planning to change the attack after a lackluster showing against the Netherlands. Here also, the manager kept the cards close to his chest and said, “I have planned a team which will ensure qualification and the best possible finish in the group.” Moreover, teammate Aurelien Tchouameni offered some interesting info regarding Kylian Mbappe. According to the midfielder, Mbappe might prefer to play without the mask. But, will the medical staff allow it? That’s a question for another day.