New Delhi: France head coach Didier Deschamps announced his 23-man squad for November’s UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Israel, notably leaving out Real Madrid forward and team captain Kylian Mbappé. Although Deschamps emphasized that the exclusion was his own decision, he reassured that it came after discussions with Mbappé and was not related to any disciplinary issues or off-field controversies. Instead, the French manager framed it as a strategic decision for the upcoming matches.
Explaining the decision to omit Mbappé, Deschamps stated that he had held multiple conversations with the forward before reaching his conclusion. “I had a couple of talks with Mbappé, and I took the decision to leave him out this time,” Deschamps said. He mentioned that his decision was a one-off choice for these two matches and that Mbappé wanted to come. He clarified that Mbappé’s omission was purely tactical and related to the needs of this specific squad assembly and not due to any court proceedings.
🚨 Kylian Mbappé has been left OUT of the France squad for the upcoming international break 🇫🇷🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/QjRjzJDhbL
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) November 7, 2024
The absence of the star forward has fueled speculation, especially since he has endured a challenging season since his summer move to Real Madrid. Reports suggest Mbappé has struggled to adapt to Carlo Ancelotti’s style, with Madrid lagging behind Barcelona in La Liga and facing unexpected difficulties in the Champions League group stage. Deschamps acknowledged the sensitivity surrounding such decisions, especially concerning high-profile players, but made it clear that he had made his choice in the team’s best interest.
France’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures
𝐋𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄 pour le dernier rassemblement de l’année de nos Bleus 📋
Félicitations à Lucas Chevalier pour sa première dans le groupe 🇫🇷🙌#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/RIS2oyWvAA
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 7, 2024
With key matchups ahead against Italy and Israel, Deschamps named a strong squad after being humiliated by Italy in Paris in the reverse fixture. He stated that his focus remains on the players who best suit the current team strategy. Adrien Rabiot returns to the fold after a brief absence, and Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who impressed in his side’s win over Mbappe’s Real Madrid, received his first call-up to the national team.
Another Real Madrid star, Aurélien Tchouaméni, also misses out on the squad after suffering another injury recently, while Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku keeps his place after scoring his first International goal during the previous break France currently sit just behind Italy in Group A2 of the UEFA Nations League after a 3-1 home defeat in September. With back-to-back fixtures against Israel on November 14 and Italy on November 16, Deschamps is eager to strengthen his side’s position in the standings.
French national team captain Kylian Mbappe, has been dropped by national team manager Didier Deschamps from his latest squad that was announced for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
