Captain Kylian Mbappé has not been called up to the France team for the next Nations League matches. The Blues will face Israel (November 14) and Italy (November 17).
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 training 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.
Misfit
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 shape. He has just missed two big matches lost at home by Real, the Clasico against FC Barcelona (4-0) ten days ago and the shock in the Champions League against AC Milan (3-1 ), Tuesday.
Midfielders Adrien Rabiot and N’Golo Kanté as well as defender Dayot Upamecano, however, are returning to the Blues. Finally, the young Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier (23 years old) was called up for the first time.
/ATS
Swiss
