Captain wanted to come
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France’s national coach Didier Deschamps is surprisingly again without captain Kylian Mbappé for the end of the Nations League group phase. “I have had discussions with him and made this decision, it is better this way,” said Deschamps when the squad was announced for the games against Israel on November 14th and three days later in the top duel with Italy.
The previously ailing Real Madrid striker had not taken part in the previous two international matches of the Équipe Tricolore in October against Israel (4:1) and Belgium (2:1), although he was already back in action for the Royals at that time . At that time, Mbappé preferred to train in Madrid in consultation with Deschamps and Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.
During this time, the offensive star also traveled privately to Stockholm. In mid-October, media reports about an investigation into a rape in Sweden became public, which Mbappé has been defending himself against ever since. “He knows that he has absolutely nothing to blame himself for,” his lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard told the broadcaster “TF1” and announced that he would file a complaint for defamation or alleging an imagined crime.
Deschamps now emphasized that these events have nothing to do with his decision today. “I can tell you two things. The first is that Kylian wanted to come. The second is that it is not about non-sporting problems, as the presumption of innocence exists and must exist. It is a selective decision. It’s my decision because I think it’s best. I don’t want to tell you anymore, I stand by this decision.”
Chevalier in the France squad for the first time – Bayern’s Upamecano & Olise also there
Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from LOSC Lille will be there for the first time after Alphonse Areola was unavailable. FC Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano is also returning after a thigh injury, and his teammate Michael Olise, who made his debut in September and has since appeared on the pitch three times for the French, can also look forward to being called up again.
