Kylian Mbappe forced to get new mask after problems emerge with France star’s nose protection
KYLIAN MBAPPE has trained wearing a new mask after growing frustrated with the thickness of the one he wore against Poland.
The Real Madrid-bound star tried the new thinner model in a session on Friday after complaints over his peripheral vision being impacted in the final group game.
Mbappe, 25, has also had to regularly wipe sweat away from his eyes during the Poland game and sessions at their Paderborn base.
But after the national side’s official Instagram account shared a snap of him in the new one, suspended Paul Pogba jumped into the comments and jokingly said: “This is Batman it’s more Donatello.”
The France captain is having to wear the mask after breaking his nose in their Euros opener against Austria in Dusseldorf.
Mbappe sat out the second group game against the Netherlands, a 0-0 draw in which his teammates missed a host of chances.
He returned to start against Poland, scoring the only goal from the penalty spot.
The skipper has been the only France player involved in a goal so far at the tournament, his cross forcing Austria’s own goal in the first Group D game.
Les Bleus also expect Kingsley Coman to be available to face Belgium after the Bayern Munich winger left the camp on Friday to attend the birth of his fourth child in Sweden.
Coman has made just one appearance from the bench in Germany so far and has been struggling with illness and injury knocks throughout the group stages.
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Antoine Griezmann is expected to return to the starting line-up having been dropped for the final group game against Poland.
Teammate Eduardo Camavinga said of the Atletico Madrid star: “He’s a model of longevity. He’s a very calm person.
“So he’s certainly set a good example for the young players to try and emulate what he does and take the next step like he did.”
Meanwhile, Belgium have been forced to apologise to Mbappe after midfielder Amadou Onana said he would tackle the France captain “in the shin”.
Red Devils fans have started a new chant about the Everton man tackling Mbappe.
And the 22-year-old has repeated it on video ahead of their last-16 meeting on Monday.
In a clip published by the Belgian FA, Brussels-based comedian, Pablo Andres, says “Who will kick Mbappe in the shin?” before Onana chants his own name.
Ahead of their press conference on Saturday, Belgium’s press officer Stefan Van Loock issued an apology and said the clip had been removed from their social media.