HOOTER TROOPER

KYLIAN MBAPPE has hinted he's ready to take a gamble by playing with a broken nose.

- ALAN MARSHALL

His France side face the Dutch tomorrow in Group D, with the superstar striker sharing a cryptic message on social media two days after the incident.

"Without risks, there are no victories," he wrote.

It is the only comment so far from the player or his national bosses after the Real Madrid-bound striker had more tests on the injury suffered in Monday's 1-0 win over Austria.

There was a sighting of Mbappe, though, as he belatedly appeared for a late afternoon training session. He had a bandage covering his hooter and was seen running with a ball while working out away from the main squad.

Earlier, the diagnosis had been fairly encouraging from two of his team-mates.