Kylian Mbappé Sidelined for France’s Nations League Fixtures Due to Thigh Injury
It’s been a mixed week for Kylian Mbappé, with the forward suffering a thigh injury and then making a shock comeback for Real Madrid in their Champions League defeat to Lille. However, his recovery won’t be facilitated through international duty, as he’s been left out of Didier Deschamps’ France squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium.
Despite being fit enough to play for his club, Mbappé’s French teammate, Deschamps has decided to err on the side of caution and not risk further injury to the 23-year-old star. “I spoke with Kylian about the situation, which is still uncertain after coming on as a substitute on Wednesday,” the France coach explained. “He has a problem which is not serious but he needs treatment to recover properly. I am not here to take risks. That is why Kylian is not here.”
This decision also has a lot to do with Mbappé’s state of mind, which has been a concern for Deschamps in recent international breaks. “I have no doubt about Kylian’s commitment but he was not in the best condition during the last gathering,” the coach added.
To fill the void left by Mbappé and another absentee, Antoine Griezmann, who has retired from international duty, Deschamps has named a new-look squad featuring Christopher Nkunku, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola. This marks the first time since November 2013 that neither Mbappé nor Griezmann has been part of the French squad, and it’s a rare occurrence indeed.
France face Israel in Budapest on October 11 before traveling to Brussels for their match against Belgium on October 14. With Mbappé and Griezmann watching from the sidelines, Les Bleus will have to rely on their depth to secure a positive outcome from these fixtures.
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