According to 12BSports analysis, the France national team without Kylian Mbappe looked like a lion without its teeth. On the surface, the side still appeared intimidating, but in practice, it lacked real bite. France has traditionally built its football identity around collective strength, unity, and shared responsibility rather than dependence on one individual. This time, however, the absence of a single player showed just how much damage one missing piece can cause. Even with a squad full of elite talent, Mbappe’s presence proved impossible to replace.
France has played two matches in this European Championship, yet its only goal came from a move created by Mbappe. Beyond that, the team has failed to score at all. As 12BSports observers noted, Antoine Griezmann, who quietly carries out his role at Madrid, Marcus Thuram, who has been efficient in attack for Inter, and Ousmane Dembele, who has shown flashes between Barcelona and PSG, all fell short of filling the gap left by Mbappe. That is the biggest concern for French supporters. When a key superstar has no true replacement, the foundation of the national team begins to shake.
Mbappe burst onto the scene at the last World Cup and helped lead France to glory. Since then, he has appeared in every major match the national team has played. Across qualifiers, finals, and the Nations League, he has featured in 19 consecutive matches, accounting for 91 percent of the team’s total playing time by minutes. His attacking contributions have also made up 39 percent of France’s overall output. By any standard, he is an untouchable centerpiece.
At this tournament, a broken nose has limited his availability, and many expected him to play through the pain with a protective mask, just as stars have done in the past. In fact, videos of the “Mbappe mask” drew far more attention than regular France training clips, turning him into the center of the spotlight even while sidelined. Ultimately, the medical staff ruled him out, forcing him to watch the draw against the Netherlands from the stands. Usually known for his bright expression, Mbappe was caught on camera looking restless as his teammates struggled on the pitch.
Mbappe has not voiced any official complaint and is quietly preparing for his return. There is a strong chance he will play in the next match, where he is expected to step back into the spotlight as France pushes for a place in the round of 16. Ironically, although he has scored 12 goals at the World Cup, he has yet to score a single goal at the European Championship. That may be his Achilles’ heel, and this tournament gives him the chance to finally break that pattern.
His return would be a huge source of motivation not only for the team but also for Mbappe himself. As the saying goes, heroes are made in moments of crisis, and France desperately needs his influence to regain momentum. At the same time, it is worrying that so much responsibility is being placed on one player’s shoulders.
Some fans have criticized Didier Deschamps for becoming too dependent on Mbappe, but when a manager has one of the best players in the world, building around him may be the most natural choice. In a results-driven tournament, the focus must ultimately be on the strategy most likely to succeed rather than on avoiding criticism.
Looking at France’s current situation, 12BSports expects Deschamps’ strongest tactical change in the next match to be simple: Mbappe’s return. What France needs right now is not a brand-new system, but the absolute weapon that comes with Mbappe’s name.