Mbappé Under Fire in France for Skipping Nations League Games
Kylian Mbappé is facing a backlash in his home country after opting out of France’s Nations League games against Israel and Belgium, despite being fit enough to play for Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old forward has been criticized for his decision, with many questioning his commitment to the national team. Mbappé’s lack of preparation was cited as the reason for his exclusion from the squad by coach Didier Deschamps.
But Mbappé’s recent form suggests otherwise. He made his return to the pitch in the Champions League last week, coming off the bench for Madrid in their shock defeat to Lille. He then started in their LaLiga win against Villarreal on Saturday, playing 71 minutes before being substituted.
"It’s either you’re injured, and you don’t play with your club and you’re not called up in the national team," former France international Maxime Bossis told L’Equipe. "But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game, it makes things fuzzy. He’s a special player, but we’ve known that with Michel Platini, when we still wanted him with us when he was injured."
Mbappé’s situation is complicated by his status as national team captain, a role he inherited from Antoine Griezmann, who recently retired from international football. Griezmann’s commitment to Les Bleus was unwavering, playing a record 84 consecutive matches for his country between 2017 and 2024.
As captain, Mbappé is expected to set an example for his teammates and fans. But his recent actions have been called into question. "As a captain, he must be an example for the fans, and he has not been," Fabien Bonnet, spokesperson for the Irresistibles Francais, the main France supporters’ group, told L’Equipe. "What emerges is that the real captain, Antoine Griezmann, is gone."
France’s next Nations League games are against Israel in Budapest on Thursday and Belgium on Monday. With the team struggling to find consistency, Mbappé’s absence will be felt.
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