Kylian Mbappe is 'slowing down' France - so should Didier Deschamps consider dropping Real Madrid's masked man for Euro 2024 semi-final with Spain?

In fairness to Mbappe, his Euro 2024 campaign might have turned out differently had he not been dealt such a cruel blow in France's opening group game against Austria. He took a shoulder to the face when challenging Austria defender Kevin Danso for a header in the closing minutes, and the top of his white France jersey quickly turned red as blood gushed from his nose.

Mbappe was taken to hospital after France's narrow 1-0 win and received confirmation he'd suffered a broken nose. Questions were then raised over whether his tournament would be brought to a premature close, but Deschamps quelled them when revealing that his captain wouldn't need immediate surgery, and he was cleared to continue playing with the aid of a custom mask.

France limped to a 0-0 draw against the Netherlands without Mbappe, but he returned with his new headgear against Poland, and opened his scoring account from the penalty spot. He was, however, also guilty of wasting a number of good chances in open play as the main issue with the mask quickly became apparent.

"It’s really difficult because it limits your vision and the sweat clogs up," Mbappe said after the 1-1 draw that took France through to the last-16. "Initially I felt I was in 3D and I’d been invited to the Euros as a VIP. I could see the people, but I felt it wasn’t me playing. It’s really annoying."

France went on to beat Belgium in the round of 16, despite another very underwhelming performance and Mbappe's wildly erratic shooting. He did provide a much-needed spark in attack with his dynamic dribbling, but still wasn't quite his usual self, and Les Bleus didn't have to do anything special to overcome Dominic Tedesco's awful Belgium side.

However, Mbappe's most concerning performance so far came in the next round against Portugal, as the fifth - and potentially final - clash between him and Cristiano Ronaldo ended up being a damp squib. With nothing to separate the two sides after 120 minutes, penalties were needed to decide who would progress to the semi-finals, and France held their nerve to win 5-3.

Under normal circumstances, the fifth spot-kick probably would have gone to Mbappe, but Deschamps took the surprise decision to take off his talismanic forward at the extra-time interval. It wasn't a tactical move, though, as Mbappe later admitted: "I told him that I was no longer feeling up to it, that I was too tired."

Calling it quits at such a crucial moment speaks volumes over Mbappe's current physical and mental condition. L'Equipe are well known for their harsh player ratings, but the 2/10 they gave Mbappe on this occasion felt completely justified. “While he is supposed to give speed to the game, he slowed it down,” the French publication stated.

Mbappe barely set foot in the Portugal penalty area, avoided one-on-one duels and his passing was atrocious, as was his general body language. The former PSG man isn't enjoying his football at the moment, which should be giving Deschamps sleepless nights heading into a semi-final against a far more dangerous opponent.

In Mbappe's defence, he could have been withdrawn far earlier. The second half of the Portugal tie was paused for a lengthy period as Mbappe required treatment after being hit in the mask by a powerful Bernardo Silva header.

The Bleus captain was clearly in agony, and it was admirable that he played on through it. But there are plenty of elite players who have continued performing at a high level despite dealing with the discomfort of a mask; Mbappe's struggles actually stem from the fact he is clearly not fully fit.

"I don’t think I have my legs fully. I think I need a good pre-season," Mbappe said last week. "To be at 100 percent and properly quick, I need good physical preparation and I’m sure that’ll be better after a pre-season with my new club."

Should Deschamps really still be relying on a man who doesn't feel in optimal shape? It also sounds like his head is already at Santiago Bernabeu, and that he's just going through the motions with his country because of his responsibilities as captain.

A knee complaint prevented Mbappe from starting France's final Euros warm-up game against Canada, and he was also nursing a back problem before kick-off in Germany. People also seem to have forgotten that Mbappe's final weeks at PSG were overshadowed by injury, too, meaning he's had no chance to build up any rhythm. To put it plainly: France can't expect Mbappe to make the difference in his current condition.

Deschamps does have plenty of options when it comes to potential replacements for Mbappe. Kingsley Coman, Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele are all right-wingers by trade, but can fill in on the left if needed.

There's an element of risk with all three, though. Coman has been a great servant during the Deschamps regime, but missed a large portion of the 2023-24 season at Bayern Munich due to injury, and briefly left the France camp for the birth of his fourth child after the last-16 win over Belgium.

Kolo Muani and Dembele, meanwhile, both failed to live up to expectations in their debut campaigns at PSG, and have transferred their indifferent form onto the international stage. If Deschamps is to take Mbappe out of the firing line, then it must be for another of his former PSG team-mates: the supremely talented Bradley Barcola.

The 21-year-old started on the left against Poland in the group stage as Mbappe was moved into a No.9 role, and was a joy to watch. Everything good about France stemmed from his ingenuity and fearlessness on the ball, which more often than not, he matched with the right final pass, and Les Bleus would have walked away with a victory had Mbappe made more of the stellar service.

Deschamps was far too hasty in taking Barcola off on the hour, but he made his mark, and also impressed when coming on for Mbappe in extra-time against Portugal. France have seen their most potent weapon blunted, but Barcola is the next best thing, and it's easy to imagine him tying 39-year-old Jesus Navas in knots if he gets the nod to face Spain.

It must also be noted that France's disjointed displays at Euro 2024 are not solely down to Mbappe. Deschamps has failed to strike the right balance in midfield from minute one, opting for a dysfunctional diamond against Austria and the Netherlands before switching to a 4-3-3 formation, with Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann looking like a shadow of his former self.

Griezmann understandably struggled to make an impact in an unfamiliar role on the right flank against Belgium, but even after moving back to the No.10 slot in the quarter-finals, he was still unable to dictate proceedings in the way he so often has in the past. The 33-year-old seems to have lost his creative edge, and France can't get through a low block as a result, as underlined by the fact they've yet to score from open play in Germany aside from own goals.

It goes some way to explaining why Mbappe has been less effective, beyond his physical state. The Real Madrid new boy isn't expending as much energy because he doesn't trust his supporting cast, which no longer includes Paul Pogba - with the Juventus playmaker currently serving a four-year doping ban.

"Why do I not make runs in behind anymore? It depends on the team," Mbappe conceded before the Portugal match. "When we had Pogba for example, I could just blindly make a run and he would find me. Now I have to adapt to a different situation."

The only reason France are into the last four of another major tournament is because of their nigh impenetrable defence. William Saliba has unquestionably been their standout player, while AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan has been the epitome of cool and dependable between the sticks.

The likelihood is Deschamps will stick with Mbappe, and in that case France could still grind their way to the title. They're on the verge of their third major tournament final out of four, which gives them the upper hand over Spain in the experience stakes, and that could be the decisive factor.

The criticism directed Mbappe's way throughout the tournament hasn't gone down well with Deschamps either. He said to Telefoot at the weekend: "Don't you think he has already made enough history with what he has done so far? He wants to make even more history. Even if he's not 100 percent, I know very well that for the opponent, knowing he's playing makes them think and forces them to adapt.”

Mbappe also commands more respect than anyone else in the dressing room, with Kolo Muani claiming "he was born to pull a group forward". France are built around Mbappe, and Deschamps probably won't risk messing with that harmony at Allianz Arena.

But his inclusion in the starting XI will guarantee another long night for supporters. Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton described Les Bleus as "bang average" against Portugal, before adding to BBC Sport: "If they were playing in the back garden, I'd close the curtains."

If France get the job done, that won't matter. But if Spain get an early goal and smell blood, Deschamps may very well regret choosing a blunt tool to lead the line again.