Nightmare! Mbappe goes off injured after scoring in Zidane's debut
France's perfect night in Turkiye has turned into agony: Kylian Mbappe has been forced off with a knee injury.
Details: The France captain, who had opened the scoring in the Nations League clash in Kocaeli, went down early in the second half and could not continue, leaving the pitch with France leading 1-0. The injury comes on what was supposed to be a celebration: Zinedine Zidane's first ever match as head coach of the national team, with Mbappe leading the side out as his captain.
The timing could hardly be crueler. Just yesterday Zidane had calmed the entire country, insisting that Mbappe's minor pre match issue was nothing serious and that his captain would be ready to play. Mbappe was indeed ready, scoring the opener and equaling Patrick Vieira's caps total as captain, before his knee betrayed him. The extent of the injury is not yet known, and the whole of France, not to mention Real Madrid, will be holding its breath until the first examinations.
It's worth noting that Zidane's era has now begun with both a goal from his leader and his worst possible nightmare in the same night. The coming hours of medical updates will matter far more than the final score in Turkiye.
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Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
