France will be without captain Kylian Mbappe for their two October UEFA Nations League games due to injury.
Mbappe has started to hit form at Real Madrid, following a mixed start to the campaign, with seven goals scored across La Liga and European action.
However, a hamstring injury forced him to miss last weekend's thrilling 1-1 derby draw at Atletico Madrid, before being recalled for the UEFA Champions League loss at Lille in midweek.
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Mbappe was only fit enough for a spot on the bench against the Ligue 1 side with Carlo Ancelotti bringing him on just after the hour mark at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
As part of his squad announcement for the incoming games, France head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed he spoke to Mbappe before making the call to leave him out.
Why is Mbappe not playing for France?
Deschamps indicated that following a conversation with his captain, he was concerned by rushing him back into action too quickly, and the decision was made to rest the 25-year-old.
📋 The French Squad List for our next 2️⃣ Nations League matches 🙌#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/lOJy6Bw76I
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) October 3, 2024
"I discussed things with Kylian. He has a problem which isn't serious," he stated as part of the squad announcement.
"I'm not here to take risks, which is why Kylian is not on the list.
"He wasn't in the best condition mentally (in September's games). But I don't have the slightest doubt about his commitment."
Deschamps also confirmed he spoke with Antoine Griezmann over his recent call to retire from international football and hinted the door remains open to the Atletico Madrid forward.
"He's a very endearing and generous person, a leader on the field. Antoine has reached the age where you experience physical and psychological fatigue.
"He took the decision and he stands by it, it wasn't enforced."
Kylian Mbappe's France appearances, goals, trophies
Mbappe is currently third on France's all-time top scorer list with 48 goals in 86 games for Les Bleus narrowly behind Thierry Henry on 51 and outright leader Olivier Giroud on 57.
He has some work to do to break into France's top 10 appearance-makers with 97 caps the current threshold with former captain Hugo Lloris out in front on 145.
Since his senior international debut in 2017, Mbappe has played in two European Championships and two FIFA World Cups for France.
He failed to reach the final in both European tournaments, but scored in the 2018 World Cup final as France secured a first world title since 1998, and clinched the Golden Boot as they lost the 2022 final to Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Who will replace Mbappe as France captain?
Deschamps faces two tricky games in the coming weeks, as France face Israel in Budapest on October 10 before taking on Belgium in Brussels four days later.
With Mbappe absent, and Griezmann stepping down as vice captain, Deschamps will look elsewhere for a leader.
N'Golo Kante captained the team, with Mbappe starting on the bench at home to Belgium last month, but the Al Nassr star is not included in the current squad.
Mbappe or Griezmann captained the team in 21 of the previous 22 games, with one for Giroud, so it will be a wildcard pick for Deschamps with Arsenal centre-back William Saliba and AC Milan duo Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan among the options.
