Euro 2024: France's Kylian Mbappe question, Scotland's lifeline and Joe Hart

Euro View - Dan Barnes

THERE is no denying that losing Kylian Mbappe would be a major blow but if any squad can handle it, it’s France.

The new Real Madrid forward suffered a broken nose during the 1-0 victory against Austria on Monday and was unable to continue.

Mbappe’s future involvement in the tournament has now been cast into doubt and there are fears he will miss at least the remaining group matches.

However, the pacey forward has hinted on social media he could play through the pain with the help of a protective mask.

If he is able to play on, how will the injury affect Mbappe’s performances? That is the big question for Didier Deschamps as he aims to build on the penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Argentina in the World Cup final two years ago.

The opener wasn’t exactly convincing but France managed to secure all three points with a helping hand from Maximilian Wober. Mbappe played a key role in the goal, driving past defenders with ease as we have seen so many times in recent seasons.

The former PSG man also had a big chance to make things more comfortable in the second half but curled just past the post after using his lightning speed to get in behind the backline.

There were similarities with England’s display against Serbia, although both nations ultimately got the job done – and that is all that matters at this stage.

In a previous column I wrote that if Mbappe can produce his best form over the next few weeks, I don’t think anyone can stop France from going all the way.

The injury might make things more interesting, especially with a couple of challenging games coming up against the Netherlands and Poland.

Of course, there is still plenty of fire power in the France squad even without Mbappe – Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud are just a few of the names Deschamps can call upon.

Elsewhere, another big-name, big-game striker has been making the headlines as Poland hope Robert Lewandowski will return to save their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.

The Barcelona talisman wasn’t involved against the Netherlands on Sunday due to a thigh problem as Wout Weghorst struck a late winner (a man who somehow always seems to play like prime Ronaldo for his country).

Poland surely must beat Austria to have any chance of getting through, although it would still be a tall order with France to play next week.

Lewandowski is back in training and seeing his name on the team-sheet would be a huge boost for the Poles.

He has a wealth of experience on the international stage, having racked up 150 caps over the years, and has still been banging in the goals in La Liga at 35.

I can’t see Poland winning their next two games, but you just never know when it comes to tournament football. Stranger things have happened.

Euro View: Elliott Jackson

Scotland couldn't have performed much worse than their first effort against Germany to kickstart the tournament, but gave their qualification hopes a big boost with their display against the Swiss on Wednesday night.

Steve Clarke's side were far more aggressive and front-footed than their meek display against the hosts on opening night. It was far more like the Scotland which saw them beat Spain and win their first five games in qualifying.

Since, results have been far more mixed but their dogged display against Switzerland showed they can compete. Yes, they lack quality and guaranteed goals in attack but in Scott McTominay and John McGinn, they possess players that make others uncomfortable.

There was a stroke of luck with the opener, Fabian Schar very kindly lifting the Manchester United man's strike into the roof of his own net.

Scotland repaid the favour by putting Xherdan Shaqiri through, though he still had plenty to do. It's remarkable he is still going and even more so that he's managed to score at five different tournaments, beating Cristiano Ronaldo to the record.

It was yet another blockbuster strike and we have seen so many at this tournament. The freeze frame shows how in-perfect the strike was, nestled in the corner.

Both teams threw punches but failed to land them but Scotland have hope of qualifying now. If they beat Hungary, they'd be darn unlucky not to go through as a best third-placed team.

That won't be easy though as their final opponents were much improved too. They caused Germany plenty of issues in their 2-0 defeat and, on another day, they could've got their noses in front.

Some key decisions went against them and Manuel Neuer was in great form. Both teams need to win and that sets up a lovely final matchday.

TV View – Marc Iles

NO human being has ever had better posture than Joe Hart.

Going off his appearances in front of the cameras at the Euros so far, the former Manchester City and Celtic keeper has just finished his final year at the British Butler Institute.

You could hang a plumb line off the end of his nose and it would drop perfectly to the floor bisecting the gap between his body and his microphone. It is a work of art every bit as breathtaking as the Brandenburg Gate or Cologne Cathedral.

Goalkeepers are often instructed to make themselves as big as possible when strikers are approaching with a view to score. A quick Google reveals he is 6ft 5ins in stocking feet, but I’d bet by stretching those vertebrae he could clear seven feet like some kind of boxing kangaroo.

As someone who spends their day hunched over a laptop and cramming themselves into press boxes built for Hobbits in the 1800s, I am of course envious that he can stand, do an interview and pin his shoulders back so far that they are still playing for Shrewsbury Town.

Hart’s punditry isn’t bad, either. There was a gap in the market for a goalkeeping expert. Rob Green does a decent job on Channel Four as a co-commentator but fresh out of his playing days at Parkhead Hart has given a good account of himself, especially describing Angus Gunn’s psyche on Wednesday night having shipped five against Germany and going into a game Scotland simply couldn’t afford to lose against the Swiss.

What he says feels researched and relevant to the modern game and, after all, he was one of the first proper footballing goalkeepers when he came through at City a dozen-or-so years ago.

Can the same be said for Martin Keown, who upon hearing that semi-automated offsides were being used at the tournament had to be schooled in-game by commentator Steve Wilson that the same system was also on its way to the Premier League.

How on earth has he missed it? I’ve heard more in this summer’s programming about semi-automated offsides than I have about which comedy series I can stream on BBC iPlayer. And that’s a lot, by the way.