Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe will not feature in France’s UEFA Nations League fixtures this month, with coach Didier Deschamps opting to rest the 25-year-old as he recovers from a recent injury, Soccernet.football reports.
Mbappe returned to action midweek, making a substitute appearance in Real Madrid’s surprising 1-0 loss to Lille in the UEFA Champions League.
However, Deschamps confirmed on Thursday that the French captain would be left out of the national squad for upcoming matches against Israel and Belgium.
“I had an exchange with Kylian. He has a problem which is not serious. I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad,” Deschamps explained to reporters in Paris.
The decision is aimed at giving Mbappe time to fully recover from the thigh injury that recently sidelined him.
France, who won the Nations League in 2021, will face Israel on October 10 in Budapest—a venue change prompted by security concerns in the Middle East.
Following that, they will take on Belgium in Brussels on October 14.
Currently, France has three points from their first two matches in Group A2, trailing Italy, who leads with six points.
Deschamps also addressed the absence of Antoine Griezmann, who announced his retirement from international football earlier this week.
“He had such an impact that we can’t play in the same way,” Deschamps said of the 33-year-old who earned 137 caps for France. “I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player.”
Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku returns to the squad, marking his first call-up since June last year.
Meanwhile, veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante was also omitted from the squad despite his impressive showing at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Mbappe returned to action midweek, making a substitute appearance in Real Madrid’s surprising 1-0 loss to Lille in the UEFA Champions League.
However, Deschamps confirmed on Thursday that the French captain would be left out of the national squad for upcoming matches against Israel and Belgium.
“I had an exchange with Kylian. He has a problem which is not serious. I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad,” Deschamps explained to reporters in Paris.
The decision is aimed at giving Mbappe time to fully recover from the thigh injury that recently sidelined him.
France, who won the Nations League in 2021, will face Israel on October 10 in Budapest—a venue change prompted by security concerns in the Middle East.
Following that, they will take on Belgium in Brussels on October 14.
Currently, France has three points from their first two matches in Group A2, trailing Italy, who leads with six points.
Deschamps also addressed the absence of Antoine Griezmann, who announced his retirement from international football earlier this week.
“He had such an impact that we can’t play in the same way,” Deschamps said of the 33-year-old who earned 137 caps for France. “I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player.”
Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku returns to the squad, marking his first call-up since June last year.
Meanwhile, veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante was also omitted from the squad despite his impressive showing at Euro 2024 in Germany.
