France fans booed and jeered as a message from Belgian comedian Pablo Andres played on the big screens in Dusseldorf ahead of Monday's Euro 2024 showdown. Belgium's social media team posted a controversial video leading up to the match involving Andres and midfielder Amadou Onana, which featured a chant about tackling Kylian Mbappe on the shin.
The Red Devils FA subsequently apologised to Mbappe for releasing the video, which was light-hearted in nature but sparked backlash from some corners.
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"A video was posted on social networks in which Amadou Onana talks about tackling Mbappe on the shin," Belgium's statement read. "The Federation has been working with Pablo Andres for several years now. The one published on our networks was also humorous. We apologise if anyone may have been offended."
It has become standard practice for high-profile celebrities to film messages of encouragement for their national teams at Euro 2024, and they are then played on the big screens before kick-off.
When Andres' energetic well-wishes came on at the Dusseldorf Arena, a smattering of boos was audible from the French end of the stadium. The jeers and whistles continued until the message concluded, with those who had seen the video featuring the Mbappe chant making it clear they were not impressed.
Aside from a possible tackle on the shin, Mbappe has already battled his fair share of injury problems since landing in Germany. Real Madrid's new signing was forced off in France's first group game, against Austria, after breaking his nose.
He then sat out the goalless draw with Holland, before returning with a protective face mask to open his Euro 2024 account in a 1-1 draw with Poland. Mbappe is France's most dangerous attacker and he will be desperate to add to his international trophy cabinet, having scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final but still come out on the losing side against Argentina.
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"The camp is really happy," said Mbappe ahead of the Belgium match. "We're really happy to be here. It's a new competition now and we want to play an amazing game. It's something new, something different and we're ready to compete.
"We're in a different situation in the knockout stages but our spirit is always the same. We always want to win and we came here to win. And now we have to prove that on the pitch."
