“F…, that’s not possible.” Ostensibly, the content of his hitting session somewhat frustrates Kylian Mbappé. Half amused, half exasperated, he puts on a show. This Sunday, he seems to be calling the media present in the stands to witness and demonstrating loudly, with supporting gestures, at each of his (numerous) aborted attempts.
Victim of a broken nose on June 17 against Austria (1-0), the French captain did not show himself, imitated by his acolytes in the attack, surgical in his attempts on the lawn of the Home Deluxe Arena in Paderborn. If the adage, “we play as we train”, is true, then it does not bode well, Tuesday against Poland in Dortmund, for a French team in prey, at the start of the Euro, to recurring and worrying inefficiency.
Mbappé appears last on the pitch wearing a new mask with Speedo straps, like swimming goggles. There is also reinforcement on the nose and small vents are visible. Teasingly, Antoine Griezmann welcomes him by singing Zorro’s song: “A rider…”. Saturday, the day after the draw against the Netherlands (0-0), in which he did not participate, the Blues star played a match against the Paderborn U21s with two goals and two assists.
After a basic warm-up, the usual substitutes continue with a ball circulation exercise concluded with shots for the attackers. The starters return to the locker room or take their place on the bench. In the middle of the exercise, Mbappé asks to change his mask. He seems, in certain sequences, embarrassed again. He constantly struggles to reposition his protection correctly.
He still needs to tame his mask
He obviously still needs to tame it, learn to breathe with it and find a way not to put it back on regularly. After temporarily adjusting the sights, he celebrates his goal by throwing away his mask. He will then collect it without putting it back on his face.
The Blues’ training ended in a decidedly schoolboy mood, with numerous arguments, notably between Pavard, one of the few to demonstrate, in the middle of an ocean of inaccuracies, a certain skill and Mbappé. All under the watchful eye of Didier Deschamps and Guy Stephan, his deputy.
It will not have escaped their notice that the neo-Madrilenian never made any head. If it is hasty to get lost in conjectures, it is also not a trivial detail 48 hours before the curtain drops for Group D against Robert Lewandowski’s partners.
The Blues are returning to training. Mbappé, masked, is there, unlike Camavinga, the only one absent from the session pic.twitter.com/rXeC9tFGdK
— Adrien Chantegrelet (@Adrientp) June 23, 2024
Eduardo Camavinga, who feels minor pain in one ankle, is exempt from this session. He just appeared in tap dancing on the sidelines with the physiotherapists. Kingsley Coman, hampered by a calf the day before, is present without, however, hitting the goal where Brice Samba and Alphonse Areola take turns.
Initially, Deschamps’ selection was to train on Monday at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, but that will not be the case. Finally, the Blues will appear at 11 a.m. at the Paderborn stadium. A decision motivated by the restrictions imposed by UEFA. The body limits the duration of sessions on the match pitch to 45 minutes, compared to usually one hour. A measure not suitable for the French staff who generally organize an opposition of 11 against 11, which sometimes serves as a setup.
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