Football/France : Deschamps excludes Mbappé for November matches
Didier Deschamps caused a surprise on Thursday, November 7, by excluding Kylian Mbappé from the list of players selected for the France squad. The Real Madrid forward will not be part of the group for the final two matches of the 2024 UEFA Nations League, against Israel at the Stade de France on November 14 and against Italy at San Siro on November 17.
Asked about this unexpected decision, Deschamps simply stated: “I spoke with him and made this decision for this particular gathering because I believe it’s the best thing to do.” However, according to some Spanish media outlets, including Marca, there might be other factors at play: Mbappé’s recent underwhelming performances and his involvement in the Swedish affair could have also influenced the coach’s decision.
From Real Madrid’s perspective, the news was not entirely surprising. According to L’Équipe, although the club was not informed in advance of the non-call-up, they had not requested Mbappé’s absence. On the contrary, the club sees this international break as potentially beneficial for the player. It provides him the opportunity to rest, avoid injury with the national team, and regain confidence through training under Carlo Ancelotti’s supervision.
Thus, the decision seems to satisfy all parties involved: for Deschamps, it’s a chance to allow Mbappé to recover and return in better shape. For Real Madrid, the forward’s absence from international duty reduces physical risks and offers an opportunity to rejuvenate one of their key attacking assets for the rest of the season.
