Didier Deschamps says Kylian Mbappe is “raring to go” ahead of a possible return for France against Poland on Tuesday.
The French captain, 25, has been training in a mask and played in an hour-long behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday as he builds up his fitness after fracturing his nose against Austria in their opening game eight days ago.
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He sat out the draw with the Netherlands on Friday but looks set to return with Deschamps’ side guaranteed to progress to the knockout phase with a point.
They could even qualify before that if Albania fail to beat Spain on Monday.
Mbappe’s condition has improved in recent days with Deschamps hinting the Real Madrid forward will feature in Dortmund.
“It’s better everyday,” Deschamps said. “He was in our training sessions. The bruise has gone down a lot. He’s getting used to the mask.
“He wants to play, he’s raring to go. He wanted to play against the Netherlands and he wants to play tomorrow.”
Mbappe broke his nose after colliding with the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso’s during France’s 1-0 victory in Dusseldorf last week.
The nose was reset by the team’s medical staff in the changing room immediately after the game, with subsequent x-rays undertaken at a local hospital confirming the striker did not require surgery for now but will have to wear a mask.
Deschamps admits his star player will have to adapt to his protective gear.
“No problems with breathing but the way he sees yes,” he added. “For those who play with a mask, it’s not a constraint but it does limit your vision. He wears it because he needs to protect his face in certain incidents that could occur.”
“There will be contact regardless of where you play, whenever you have those one-vs-ones,” he said when asked if he has considered moving Mbappe wider and out of the firing line.
“Obviously, yes it’s maybe hindering but it’ll be something he’ll get used to. It’s like wearing those 3D glasses. We have as thin a masks as possible.”
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Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski will hope to line up opposite Mbappe on Tuesday and knows the difficulties of wearing a mask himself.
“It’s nothing nice. It’s tough, especially for strikers who move in the box,” he said in his own news conference. “I had problems to react and to see the ball and the opponent. A few milliseconds was slowing me down. It was a tough challenge. It’s not pleasant but your health is most important.
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Football emotions are super high and you want to win at all costs. I didn’t play well in a mask. I understand how he will feel. His position is different, I had a little less time, it was different.”
Mbappe’s team-mate N’Golo Kante — man of the match in both of France’s games so far — is eager to see him return.
“We all know his qualities as a finisher,” he said. “One of the reassuring facts is that we had a lot of chances without him. With him, we can be more effective.
“Maybe Kylian will help us score goals and win the game, it is a huge advantage.”
“To be honest I forgot that he was wearing a mask,” he said of how Mbappe has looked in training. “He was great, decisive, dangerous, he played really well in the training session.
“I hope that will reflect on the pitch tomorrow.”
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(Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)