Euro 2024: France's Kylian Mbappe set to face Poland as Netherlands eye Group D top spot

France coach Didier Deschamps said Kylian Mbappé is “getting better every day” and “wants to play” as they look to clinch top spot in Group D against bottom side Poland at Euro 2024 on Tuesday.

Mbappe, who sustained a broken nose in their tournament opening 1-0 win over Austria, was absent as Les Bleus laboured to a 0-0 draw against the Netherlands in Leipzig at the weekend. That flat performance quite naturally led to fears about their attacking potency when shorn of their chief goal threat.

Deschamps will have been encouraged to see Mbappe – fitted with a protective mask – take part in a 60-minute practice match on Sunday, scoring twice and setting up two more in a game against under-21 players from Paderborn, France’s home for the tournament.

The Real Madrid-bound striker will wear the mask if he does play against Poland at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.

“The bruise has gone down, he is getting used to playing in a mask,” Deschamps said on Monday. “He wants to play – he wanted to play against the Netherlands and he wants to play against Poland.”

N’Golo Kante sounded more convinced Mbappé would be returning. “He was great, decisive and dangerous,” midfielder Kante said of Mbappé’s performance in practice.

“I think he feels well and I hope this translates on the pitch tomorrow.”

Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who will be a teammate of Mbappe at Real Madrid next season, said the forward was ready to play against the Polish in Dortmund.

“Everybody knows that he wants to play the next game, it’s not a surprise for anyone,” said Tchouameni.

“He is getting used to the mask, he and we obviously would prefer he could play without it but we don’t have a choice. We know that he’ll be ready. Nothing’s changed. We know he will