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France captain Kylian Mbappe was left covered in blood after suffering a burst nose in his country’s Euro 2024 opener against Austria.
Mbappe sustained the injury challenging for a header in the penalty box when he collided with the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso.
Mbappe’s nose started bleeding and received medical attention after play was stopped, with his white shirt stained in blood.
The 25-year-old star was helped off the pitch by medics before he was bizarrely booked when he attempted to re-enter the field of play without permission form the referee.
It then became clear that Mbappe could not continue and he left the pitch, going straight down the tunnel with nine minutes of stoppage time remaining.
It had been a mixed evening for Mbappe until that point, with the star forward playing a key role in France’s only goal of the goal as his cross deflected in off Austria defender Max Wober.
But Mbappe, who joins Real Madrid on 1 July, was unable to score his first goal at the European Championships after wasting a golden chance to double France’s lead when sent through on goal.
France held on in Dusseldorf to open their Euro 2024 with a victory, joining Netherlands on three points after their opening Group D win over Poland. Les Blues face the Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday night.
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