Injured Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the France squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Israel and Belgium due to a muscular injury. The 22-year-old forward from Real Madrid has been dealing with a muscle problem since last month and featured for 35 minutes in the club’s recent Champions League match against Lille. However, he has not been deemed fit for international duty by manager Didier Deschamps.
France has once again chosen Michael Olise to join the squad in place of Mbappe. Olise, an English-born midfielder, earned his first two caps in matches against Italy and Belgium last month. With the recent retirement of midfielder Antoine Griezmann from international football, Olise has been given the opportunity to fill the gap in the team.
Deschamps explained in a press conference that Mbappe’s injury is not serious, but he is not willing to take any risks with the player’s fitness. As a result, Mbappe was left out of the squad for precautionary measures. In addition to Olise, Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku has also been called up to the team after 15 months since his last cap in a match against Greece.
France currently sits second in Group A2 of the Nations League, with three points from two games, trailing behind Italy by three points. They are set to play against Israel in Budapest on 10th October and Belgium in Brussels four days later.
The retirement of Griezmann, who scored 44 goals and provided a national record 30 assists in 137 matches for France, marks the end of an era for the team. Deschamps praised Griezmann as a leader on the field and acknowledged the physical and mental fatigue that led to his decision to retire from international football.
The absence of Mbappe and the retirement of Griezmann present new challenges for the French national team as they prepare for important Nations League fixtures. Deschamps will be counting on the talents of players like Olise and Nkunku to step up and deliver in these crucial matches.