French national team manager Didier Deschamps has made a surprising decision to exclude captain Kylian Mbappé from the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel and Belgium.
The move is aimed at allowing Mbappé to fully recover from a thigh injury sustained during a recent match with Real Madrid.
Mbappé suffered the injury on September 24th and was initially expected to be out for three weeks. Despite returning to action earlier than anticipated, Deschamps has opted to prioritize Mbappé’s long-term recovery and avoid any unnecessary risks.
In addition to Mbappé’s absence, the French squad will also be missing Antoine Griezmann, who recently announced his retirement from international football. Griezmann, a veteran of 137 caps for France, leaves behind a significant void in the team’s attacking options.
Deschamps has called up Christopher Nkunku, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola to help fill the gaps left by Mbappé and Griezmann. This marks the first time since November 2013 that a France squad has not featured either player.
Speaking about Griezmann’s retirement, Deschamps expressed his gratitude for the player’s contributions to the French team. “I can only thank him for everything he has done and brought to the French team,” Deschamps said. “He’s a very good example to follow for young people.”
France will face Israel in Budapest on October 11th before traveling to Brussels for the match against Belgium on October 14th.
