UEFA Euro

Randal Kolo Muani on Kylian Mbappé's protective mask: 'You really see nothing'

Published Jul. 7, 2024 1:21 p.m. ET

France striker Randal Kolo Muani didn’t quite appreciate the difficulty teammate Kylian Mbappé was experiencing wearing a protective mask at Euro 2024 until he tried it on.

"You really see nothing," Kolo Muani said Sunday. "Nothing."

A broken nose — and the need to wear a vision-limiting mask to cover it – partly explains Mbappé's relatively subdued displays so far at Euro 2024. He has scored just one goal in four games, and that was from the penalty spot.

Still, Kolo Muani jumped to his captain’s defense at a news conference at France’s training base in Paderborn in Germany, praising his leadership skills and saying there was still time for Mbappé to make a difference at Euro 2024.

France plays Spain in Munich in the semifinals on Tuesday.

"It’s natural for him," Kolo Muani said of the 25-year-old Mbappé being captain. "He has this gift of carrying the team, the group. He gives ideas and advice to the players.

"He was born for this. He was born to pull the group upward."

Mbappé has also been struggling with some physical problems that he believes won’t be cleared up until he has a full preseason with new club Real Madrid.

Kolo Muani believes that even if Mbappé isn’t at his full potential, he can still drive France to the title.

"To see him not score, it’s up to us to help him, to push him," Kolo Muani said. "The competition is not over. Apart from his little broken nose, he’s OK physically."

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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