Kylian Mbappe has struggled at Euro 2024
France boss Didier Deschamps has made a worrying admission over Kylian Mbappe’s fitness ahead of the Euro 2024 semi-final against Spain.
France head into the semi-final clash as slight favourites against Spain who have been praised as one of the tournament’s top teams.
Deschamps’ men have been solid at the back but their attack has failed to set the tournament alight, failing to score a single goal from open play despite possessing world-class forwards in their ranks.
Mbappe in particular has struggled after suffering a sickening broken nose injury in the opening game against Austria.
The now Real Madrid forward has one goal to his name which came from the penalty spot and France have been told he ‘cannot play’ in the huge game against Spain.
It comes from French legend Frank Leboeuf who has called for the forward to be dropped as a result of his poor showings.
“He’s been struggling for a while. Because of his injury he has an excuse but before that he was struggling with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League,” he told ESPN.
“So, it’s not the Mbappe that we have seen. Because of his injury, I think he is not capable of playing at the top level. Whether he should play or not [is not my decision]. For the best of everybody, right now he shouldn’t play. It is a big statement.
“He’s not at 100 per cent, he’s maybe at 50, 60 per cent of his possibility because of the mask, because of his injury and everything.
“It’s not the Mbappe that we were expecting, so therefore for me, for him and for the national team he shouldn’t play because he doesn’t serve the country and the team like he should do and it’s not even his fault.
“He’s injured, he has a broken nose, he has a problem with the mask, he shouldn’t play. I think it’s a breathing issue on top of a vision issue.
“I have nothing against Mbappe, 100 per cent he should play [if fit]. I’m the first fan and I have been criticised by people who say, ‘stop defending Mbappe’. I really love the player, he’s a fantastic player but you cannot play right now.”
Kylian Mbappe has struggled at Euro 2024 (Getty)
Leboeuf’s comments come after Deschamps made a worrying admission over their star forward.
Mbappe admitted he ‘hates’ wearing the ‘horrible’ mask that has allowed him to play despite suffering the injury and his manager admitted he’s not been his usual self.
Deschamps said: “He came off [against Portugal] after 110 minutes because the extra-time was tough for him, like it was tough for everyone. Kylian had a back issue at the end of the season – and then he took that blow to his nose.
“So he has been slightly off his game – but he will be on the pitch and we have done everything we can to make sure Kylian is in the right headspace for this game.”
What Jordan Pickford had on his water bottle during England vs Switzerland penalty shootout spotted (an)
Jordan Pickford made a crucial save in the penalty shootout.
An image of Jordan Pickford’s water bottle has emerged online following England’s incredible penalty shootout victory against Switzerland at Euro 2024.
England booked their spot in the next round of the tournament following their 5-3 penalty shootout victory.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored from the spot.
Alexander-Arnold was snubbed of a spot in the starting XI but gave a mature post-match interview following his winning penalty.
Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s penalty, and a picture of his water bottle shows he brilliantly executed his instructions.
A close-up shot of the England goalkeeper’s water bottle shows where to dive for each Switzerland player.
And it had ‘dive left’ for Akanji, which the Everton star did to save the penalty.
Jordan Pickord had instructions written on his water bottle. Image: Getty
Pickford has once again come to England’s rescue in a penalty shootout following his heroics against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.
He has now saved four of the 14 penalties he has faced in shootouts at major tournaments, twice as many as all the other England goalkeepers combined saved between 1990 and 2012 (2 out of 26).
The Three Lions resume their campaign next Wednesday when they play the winner of the Netherlands vs. Turkey.
Ian Wright forced to step in as Gary Neville unleashes furious rant live on air ahead of England game (an)
Gary Neville pulled no punches during the ITV coverage of England’s Euro 2024 game.
Gary Neville pulled no punches as he absolutely ripped into VAR’s decision to award a penalty to Germany against Denmark.
Germany beat Denmark 2-0 on Saturday to book their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Arsenal star Kai Havertz opened the scoring in Dortmund with a second-half penalty, which was awarded in hugely controversial fashion.
Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box following a contentious VAR review.
After the game, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou slammed VAR for awarding a penalty to the Germans.
And speaking ahead of England’s last-16 game against Slovakia on Sunday, Neville echoed the sentiments of Postecoglou.
Neville unleashed a stunning rant about VAR as Ian Wright was forced to step in.
On ITV, he exclaimed: “I was actually offended. On behalf of every defender that basically goes to block a cross. That knows there’s an element of your hand having to be somewhere wide of your body.
“It’s so close. It’s an absolute disgrace and a joke of a decision that a nation can go out of this tournament based upon something like that.
“I feel more offended purely because I played as a right-back and did that regularly. I was never once pulled up for that in my life, where the handball has gone, I have no idea.”
Wright chipped in: “Leave it…”
Michael Oliver reviews the handball on VAR. Image: Getty
The former Manchester United defender added: “David Luiz was doing that for a few years in the PL and we actually ridiculed him for it because it looked. It’s not right, it’s an absolute joke, it’s a poor reflection on all officiating but all rule makers because I accept there are rules that referees think they have to follow but they have to change that.
“There is no football person who has played the game or watched the game that wants that as a penalty.”
Roy Keane’s reaction to Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick vs Slovakia has gone viral (an)
After taking the lead from the spot, Germany went onto score a second goal courtesy of Jamal Musiala, who slotted home in the 68th minute.
Germany progressed to the next round at the expense of Denmark, who were left raging over the decision to award the tournament hosts a penalty.
Andersen, who also had a goal ruled out, said: “It was crazy and not a penalty at all. I can’t run around with my arms behind my back and play football.
“He’s [Raum] half a metre away from me and hits the ball on my hand, so I can’t see what I could do to prevent it.”
Asked if he had spoken to referee Michael Oliver after the decisions, he said: “You can’t speak to the referees nowadays.”
