France's captain Kylian Mbappe will not require surgery for his broken nose but will need to wear a protective mask upon his return to action. The injury occurred during France's 1-0 victory over Austria in their Euro 2024 Group D opener in Duesseldorf.

The incident happened late in the match when Mbappe collided with Austrian defender Kevin Danso. The French striker was forced to leave the pitch in the 90th minute, bleeding heavily from his nose. Subsequent medical evaluations confirmed the fracture.

Philippe Diallo, President of the French Football Federation (FFF), confirmed that Mbappe will not undergo surgery. Instead, he will wear a specially made mask to protect his nose when he returns to play.

"A mask will be made which will allow [Mbappe] to contemplate a return to action after a period of treatment," the FFF stated. Despite this, it remains uncertain whether Mbappe will be fit for France's next game against the Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday.

France coach Didier Deschamps expressed his concern over Mbappe's condition post-match. "He is in a bad way. He is not well. His nose is a mess, that's for sure. That is the black mark of the evening for us," Deschamps remarked.

The match was decided by a Maximilian Woeber own goal in the first half. Play continued for a moment after the collision, with Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz eventually signaling to the referee that Mbappe needed medical attention. After receiving treatment, Mbappe briefly returned to the pitch before being substituted for Olivier Giroud.

Deschamps remained hopeful about Mbappe's recovery, emphasizing the player's importance to the team. "I have always said that the France team will be stronger with Kylian in it," Deschamps added.

France's campaign to win their first European Championship title since 2000 has started on a positive note with the victory over Austria. Deschamps noted, "It is good to start with a victory against such opponents. We have quality and talent, but we need to remain solid as well."