- Kylian Mbappe is improving daily from a broken nose, set to play against Poland wearing a protective mask
- Robert Lewandowski, benched due to a thigh injury, might start for Poland against France in the final Group D game
France boss Didier Deschamps says Kylian Mbappe is improving “better every day” as France prepares for the final Group D game against Poland, which has already eliminated them.
Mbappe suffered a broken nose in the opening win over Austria and sat on the bench for the goalless draw with the Netherlands. The striker, who will join Real Madrid on July 1, did not require an operation but must wear a protective mask when he returns to the starting XI.
“He is doing better today than yesterday and the day before that. That is obvious because he has been training,” Deschamps said.
“The bruising has come down, and he is getting used to the mask. He is as eager to play tomorrow as he was to play against the Netherlands.
“He does not find that the mask limits him, but it does restrict his vision a little. He needs to get used to it, even though the technology nowadays allows these masks to be as thin as possible.”
Poland have also been without their star striker, Robert Lewandowski, who was on the bench for their first two group matches because of a thigh injury. The Barcelona forward, who came on with half an hour to go against Austria, could be fit to start against France.
After seeing his side lose to the Netherlands and Austria, the 35-year-old hopes for an improved performance in Dortmund.
“I hope we will play our best match of the tournament,” he said.