France defeated Belgium in the round of 16 match with a late own goal
France’s captain Kylian Mbappe received unwanted news from his head coach Didier Deschamps after they defeated Belgium in the Round of 16 match at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf on Monday.
A late own goal by Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen helped France qualify for the quarter-final as Randal Kolo Muani’s shot was deflected off the defender and ended up in the net.
After the match, Deschamps held a press conference where he talked about Mbappe, who has been playing with a face mask ever since breaking his nose in France’s first match of the tournament.
Deschamps confirmed that Mbappe will have to get used to playing with the mask and it could go on for weeks. However, if the Frenchman is not careful, he could have to wear it for the next few months.
“He [Mbappe] will have to get used to the mask,” Deschamps stated. “He will have to wear it for a few weeks, and he runs the risk of having to wear the mask for several months.”
Mbappe’s performance has surely been affected and before the match against Belgium, he expressed his dissatisfaction while playing with the mask saying that it limits one’s vision which makes it difficult to perform on the field.
“It’s really difficult. It limits the vision, the sweat stays blocked so you have to keep lifting it to flow out,” Mbappe had said. “As soon as I can take it off, I will. It’s annoying, it’s annoying, it’s annoying.”
“Now, I don’t have a choice, I can’t play without. So, I have to say thank you to the mask. Physically, I feel good. I’m ready to sacrifice myself for the team.”
France will now face Portugal in the quarter-final of the tournament where Mbappe will share the field with his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, who has had a difficult night during his side’s penalty shootout win against Slovenia.