By In a surprising tactical decision, France’s star forward Kylian Mbappé was left out of the starting lineup for the crucial Euro 2024 match against the Netherlands on Friday. The Paris Saint-Germain striker, who recently suffered a broken nose, was named among the substitutes, sparking discussions about France’s strategy and Mbappé’s fitness.
Mbappé’s participation had been uncertain following the facial injury sustained during France’s opening 1-0 victory over Austria on Monday. Despite training with a protective face mask on Thursday and Coach Didier Deschamps expressing optimism about his availability, the decision was made to start the match without the prolific scorer.
Deschamps opted for a front three of Antoine Griezmann, Marcus Thuram, and Ousmane Dembélé, likely considering the physical nature of the Dutch defenders. This tactical shift sees Griezmann moving into a more advanced role compared to his deeper position against Austria, facilitated by the return of Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni from injury.
The pre-match warmup provided insight into Mbappé’s current condition. He emerged wearing a plain black face mask, adhering to UEFA equipment regulations that prohibit team colors or identifications on medical equipment worn during play. This contrasted with the personalized red, white, and blue mask, adorned with his initials and the French Football Federation logo, which he wore during Thursday’s training session.
Mbappé’s behavior during the warmup suggested some discomfort with the mask. He was observed adjusting and tapping it, potentially testing its suitability for match play. Despite this, he appeared relaxed upon arrival at the stadium, sporting sunglasses but no visible bandage on his nose.
The decision to bench Mbappé for this crucial match underscores the delicate balance between player welfare and competitive strategy. France and the Netherlands are currently level on three points in Group D, with France holding a strong historical advantage, having won seven of their last eight encounters.
This match gains additional significance following Austria’s 3-1 victory over Poland earlier in the day, further tightening the group standings. As the game unfolds, all eyes will be on the French bench, awaiting a potential game-changing appearance from Mbappé.
The absence of Mbappé from the starting lineup presents both a challenge and an opportunity for France. It allows other forwards to step up while preserving their star player for future matches. However, it also raises questions about France’s attacking prowess against a formidable Dutch side.
As the Euro 2024 tournament progresses, the management of Mbappé’s playing time and recovery will be crucial for France’s ambitions. This tactical decision by Deschamps could prove pivotal in shaping the outcome of not just this match, but France’s entire campaign.
AP
