Kylian Mbappe reveals unique thing he might use to keep playing after breaking nose in Euros game
While plenty have tipped England to be the favourites for Euro 2024 one might argue that the smart money is on France.
They've reached the finals of three of the last four major international tournaments, winning the World Cup in 2018, and are blessed with talent in practically every position which is a rare luxury in international football.
However, no team can casually shrug off the loss of its leading light, and in France's opening fixture of the Euros, many a French buttock will have been clenched at the sight of Kylian Mbappe with a broken nose.
France had to work for their 1-0 win against a well-drilled and intensively pressing Austrian team, winning only by virtue of an own goal.
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It was Mbappe's cross that was diverted into the Austrian net by defender Max Wober, but later on in the game, a clash of heads between France's leading light and Kevin Danso left Mbappe clutching his nose and covered with blood.
The star striker, who has just made the move from PSG to Real Madrid, left the pitch clutching a broken nose, though not before he was booked by the referee for returning to the pitch to run down the clock.
Obviously Mbappe doesn't want to be out of Euro 2024 and France don't want to lose him, so they won't be letting a little thing like a broken nose stop him from participating.
Mbappe seems set on returning to the pitch, and took to social media to let everyone know how he planned to protect his proboscis in future fixtures.
He posted 'Des idées de masques', which Google translate and my B in GCSE French tells me means he was asking people what mask he ought to wear for the rest of the competition.
Of course, the internet duly obliged, and Mbappe was inundated with suggestions ranging from the sensible to the silly.
The most popular suggestion was Mbappe in a Ninja Turtles mask, harkening back to the time his PSG teammates pranked him with a Dior box containing the gift.
Others suggested a cardboard cut out of French president Emmanuel Macron, a Darth Vader mask and some AI generated monstrosity daubed in PSG colours (he's left them guys, get over it) through which it is unclear the striker would be able to see.
While the sensible option would be the type of medical mask we've seen players like Victor Osimhen wear in the past, it would be far funnier if Mbappe were to emerge for France's next game in a Ninja Turtles mask.
If nothing else it'd be a hell of an achievement if he could win the Euro 2024 golden boot and get France the trophy while wearing it.
I myself will be enjoying Mbappe's continued presence at the tournament unless or until they encounter England, at which point I hope he has the worst game of his life.
No offence, Kylian.
Joe Harker