Captain Kylian Mbappé, already absent last month, was not called up to the France team for the Nations League matches against Israel (November 14) and Italy (November 17). Midfielders Adrien Rabiot and NGolo Kanté as well as defender Dayot Upamecano, however, are making their returns while young Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier (23) is called up for the first time.
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This is the second time in a row that Mbappé has been excused from a France team gathering. Last month, the striker was left at Real Madrid’s disposal to treat a left thigh injury. But the Blues star had sparked a big controversy by being established by his club two days before the start of the course.
This then took on a whole new dimension after the revelations in the Swedish press about the opening of a rape investigation which, according to the daily newspapers Aftonbladet and Expressen, would target him after a trip to Stockholm. The Swedish police and courts have still not indicated whether Mbappé was indeed the subject of a rape complaint.
Added to these off-field concerns are the purely sporting problems of the 2018 world champion. In the wake of a failed Euro 2024, Mbappé is clearly in poor form and has just missed out on two major matches lost at home by the Real, the Clasico against FC Barcelona (4-0) ten days ago and the shock in the Champions League against AC Milan (3-1) on Tuesday.
Rabiot, a French midfielder, had not been selected since the Euro. Transferred late to OM, he had been judged to be out of form until now by Deschamps. Kanté, also back, had missed the last two meetings of the Blues due to injury. Aurélien Tchouaméni, hit in the left ankle, is logically withdrawn.
The other highlight of the list concerns the arrival of Chevalier. The Lille goalkeeper continues to collect high-class performances, whether in Ligue 1 or the Champions League. He is taking advantage of the absence of goalkeeper No.3 Alphonse Areola, who has not played for two matches with West Ham.
In defense, Dayot Upamecano, not called up in October due to injury, is also back.
Didier Deschamps: For Mbappé, “it’s better this way”
Didier Deschamps did not call Kylian Mbappé into the France team squad for the November matches because he “thinks it’s better like that”, he said on Thursday, assuring that his decision was not linked to the captain’s “extra-sporting problems”. “I don’t want to get into an argument that leads to interpretations. I can’t tell you more,” the coach only explained at a press conference at the headquarters of the French Football Federation (FFF) in Paris, adding: “I take responsibility for this decision.” “It’s my decision because I think it’s better this way. I understand that that is not enough for you,” he added to the media, specifying that Mbappé’s sidelining only concerned the November rally.