Roy Keane attacks Kylian Mbappé after nosebleed: “This is inappropriate”

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Roy Keane insisted Kylian Mbappe was “out of form” after returning to the pitch and immediately sitting down again following France’s victory over Austria at Euro 2024.

The French national team captain, who scored the only goal of the match in Düsseldorf to give France a victorious start to the tournament, was covered in blood after his head hit the shoulder of Austrian defender Kevin Danso following an aerial battle.

Nevertheless, France coach Didier Deschamps was furious when Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano did not allow Les Bleus to make a substitution the next time the ball went out of play.

Mbappe then entered the field without the referee’s permission wearing a blood-stained shirt and immediately sat down again. Manzano then ran to the French captain and cautioned him. Former Manchester United captain Keane was not impressed by Mbappe’s behavior.

“He came back on the pitch to try and stop the game but he’s just sitting on the pitch. I don’t like to see that… that’s not OK,” Keane told ITV Sport.

“Listen to whether he was told to go back by the manager, whether he was treated, whether he came off the pitch. To go back and sit on the pitch, he deserves the yellow card – that’s not something you like to see!”

Gary Neville, who also works as a pundit, agreed with his former teammate: “I think he (Mbappe) looks at Deschamps and says: ‘Keep going.’

“I think he’ll think he’s let himself down.”

After suffering a suspected broken nose, Mbappe’s fitness for France’s next match against the Netherlands on Friday is uncertain.

Up to that point, it had been a mixed evening for Mbappe. The star striker played a key role in France’s only goal when his cross was deflected off Austrian defender Max Wober.

But Mbappe, who joins Real Madrid on July 1, failed to score his first goal of the European Championship after wasting a golden chance to double France’s lead when he was sent free on goal.

France started the 2024 European Championship with a win in Düsseldorf, putting them level with the Netherlands, who have three points after their opening win in Group D against Poland. Les Blues will face the Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday evening.