‘There is no sanction’ – Didier Deschamps clarifies Kylian Mbappé omission | OneFootball

Not naming Kylian Mbappé (25) in the French national team for the final two UEFA Nations League group fixtures was not a “sanction.”

Those words came from France manager Didier Deschamps, who left his captain off the list for their final two group contests at the tournament. Deschamps says that Mbappé is in a “difficult situation.“

“I’m behind him. He is going through a period that is not the happiest of his career. He wanted to come,” Deschamps added.

Mbappé has missed the last three Nations League fixtures for Les Bleus but has started in the attack regularly for his club side, Real Madrid.

Last month the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner was alleged to have been involved in a rape inquiry, which according to Swedish media took place while he was in Stockholm.

The French striker refuted those allegations, with his representatives calling those reports “false and irresponsible.”

It’s been a rough few months for the Paris-born attacker, who failed to make his mark in Euro 2024, scoring just once in that competition while suffering a broken nose in their 1-0 victory over Austria.

In their last three Nations League encounters, minus Mbappé Les Bleus are undefeated, winning twice and booking a place in the quarter-finals on Thursday despite an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Israel.

France will wrap up the Nations League preliminary stage on Sunday by travelling to the San Siro in Milan for a date with Italy.

The Italians are three points ahead of them for first, and Deschamps’ side will need to win by a two-goal margin to claim the top spot in the group. In September, the French were beaten 3-1 by Gli Azzurri at the Parc des Princes.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre