'I couldn't see!' - Kylian Mbappe warned custom mask 'can slow down a player' as Robert Lewandowski recalls 'annoying' experience at Bayern Munich ahead of Poland's crunch Euro 2024 clash with France

Back in 2015, while on the books of Bayern Munich, legendary Polish frontman Lewandowski required a protective face covering after suffering jaw and nose fractures. Real Madrid-bound Mbappe is now in a similar position after taking a nasty blow to the face while on Euro 2024 duty.

Ahead of France’s European Championship meeting with Poland in Dortmund, Lewandowski has said when asked about the issues that Mbappe is about to face: “When I had to wear a mask myself, it wasn't nice. It's quite annoying, especially in the penalty area, I had problems, I didn't react, I couldn't see, my field of vision was hampered... It's a few milliseconds but it can slow down a player. It's a challenge, it's not pleasant, but of course a player's health is more important. For a competition, emotions are very high and everyone wants to play at all costs. I understand the difficulties he faces.”

France boss Didier Deschamps has said of Mbappe having to get used to wearing an unnatural mask: “Breathing, no. But vision, yes. It limits vision a little. It's supposed to protect so in certain situations, it limits the angle of view. A greater risk of playing in the middle? No, the contacts are everywhere, in all the duels. It all depends on the position. You have to get used to it, it feels like you have 3D glasses. It's better every day. He was in our training sessions. The bruise has gone down a lot. He's getting used to the mask. He wants to play, he's raring to go. He wanted to play against the Netherlands and he wants to play [against Poland].”

Mbappe was left on the bench for Les Bleus’ uninspiring 0-0 draw with the Netherlands, with the 2018 World Cup winners sitting second in Group D as things stand and aware of the need to pick up another positive result in a bid to reach the last-16 as table toppers.