Mbappe's Absence Amplifies France's Struggles in Euro 2024 Draw

Mbappe’s absence on the bench during France’s Euro 2024 match against the Netherlands drew considerable attention, revealing his visible frustration at not being able to contribute on the field due to a broken nose sustained earlier in the tournament. France struggled in their goalless draw, missing numerous scoring opportunities, which raised concerns despite their likely advancement to the knockout stage with just a draw needed against Poland. Manager Didier Deschamps downplayed worries about France’s inability to score without Mbappe, emphasizing the fluctuating nature of football’s efficiency.

However, statistics show France’s struggles in the past two years without Mbappe in the starting lineup, failing to win any of the last seven games, with five draws and two losses. Antoine Griezmann had the chance to shine in Kylian Mbappe’s absence but failed to capitalize, missing several key chances against the Netherlands. Despite Griezmann’s shortcomings in finishing, Deschamps highlighted his versatility and importance to the team’s dynamic play.

A standout positive for France has been the performance of N’Golo Kante, who returned to international duty after a two-year absence and has been instrumental in midfield. Deschamps praised Kante’s relentless work rate and ability to drive the team forward. Looking ahead, Deschamps opted to keep Mbappe on the bench against the Netherlands as a precautionary measure due to his injury, prioritizing his recovery and ensuring he doesn’t aggravate his condition.

France’s campaign has shown both promise and areas for improvement with their strong midfield and defensive stability contrasting with concerns over offensive potency without Mbappe’s presence on the pitch.