France's Fortune Prevails as Mbappe's Masked Struggle Continues

In a gripping last-16 encounter at Euro 2024, France's luck continued to shine through as they edged past Belgium with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a Jan Vertonghen own goal in the 85th minute. However, the match also highlighted the ongoing struggles of Kylian Mbappe, who appeared visibly uncomfortable while wearing a protective mask due to a broken nose.

Mbappe's discomfort with the mask was evident as he seemed to adjust it multiple times during the game, underscoring the challenges he faces in adapting to this new reality on the pitch. He was not the only one in France's formidable forward line who looked ill at ease, as the team once again failed to deliver in front of goal with their usual clinical precision.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, France's goal tally in the tournament stands at a mere three, none of which have been scored by their players from open play. Against Belgium, Les Bleus had 19 shots, but only two were on target, ultimately relying on a fortuitous deflection to secure their passage to the quarter-finals.

Addressing the media after the match, France's boss Didier Deschamps remained defiant in the face of criticism regarding his side's lack of efficiency in attack. "If it is a deflected goal, even if it is an own goal, someone had to shoot," Deschamps reasoned. "It ended up in the back of the net."

However, the statistics paint a concerning picture for the reigning world champions. With just three goals scored, they are the lowest scorers among the remaining teams, trailing the hosts Germany by a staggering seven goals. While France appears to be scraping through, Germany seems to be gaining momentum with every game.

One disgruntled French fan voiced his frustration before the match, complaining that the team's performances were too dull, a sentiment that the goal-scoring statistics make difficult to refute.

While Deschamps acknowledged the need for improvement, he refused to label it a problem, asserting, "We have always got the capacity and capability to score more. I know it is a bit tricky for us since the beginning of the Euros, but we have had the chances."

France's fortunes were perhaps amplified by facing a cautious Belgian side that appeared to afford them too much respect, allowing Les Bleus to dictate the tempo for long periods of the game. As they progress deeper into the competition and potentially face more confident opponents, their attackers will arguably need to start delivering on a more consistent basis.

"Part of me thinks sometimes in football you create your own luck, but I don't think they are going to have much more luck," former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen remarked on BBC Radio 5 Live. "They have to go and own it now."

Deschamps has tried various approaches to ignite his forward line, from benching Antoine Griezmann to tweaking the formation, but he knows that getting Mbappe comfortable with the protective mask could hold the key to unlocking their true potential.

The incoming Real Madrid striker, who has scored an incredible 256 goals in 308 appearances for Paris St-Germain and 48 goals in 82 appearances for France, demonstrated his usual sharp movement against Belgium. However, his finishing lacked the clinical edge, with several efforts sailing well over the crossbar when, under normal circumstances, the ball would have been nestling in the back of the net.

"He is getting used to it," Deschamps stressed. "Sweating can still bother him. It can get in the eyes. But it's complicated for his vision. It's tenths of a second, but it's important. He's going to have to get used to it because he might wear it for a few weeks or even a few months."

As France prepares for the quarter-finals, they will hope that Mbappe can swiftly adapt to his new reality, ensuring that their formidable attacking prowess is firing on all cylinders. For a team that has relied heavily on good fortune thus far, the ability to create and capitalize on their own opportunities could be the decisive factor in their pursuit of glory at Euro 2024.