France captain Kylian Mbappé is facing criticism in his home country for choosing to skip Les Bleus’ Nations League games against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for his club Real Madrid.
The forward suffered a muscle injury in September but returned to the pitch as a substitute in the Champions League against French side Lille on Oct 2.
Didier Deschamps Decision
France coach Didier Deschamps omitted Mbappe from the squad he announced on Oct 3, stating that the 25-year-old had insufficient preparation due to playing too few matches.
It was agreed that he was not fit for international duty and would remain in Madrid to recover to full fitness.
But Mbappe started Real’s 2-0 Spanish La Liga win against Villarreal on October 5, which reportedly annoyed Deschamps.
Criticism from Former Players
Former France international Maxime Bossis told French sports daily L’Equipe on October 7, “If you’re injured, you don’t play for your club and you’re not called up for the national team.”
“But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and then start a league game, it can be confusing. He’s a special player. We’ve known that since Michel Platini’s time, we still wanted him with us even when he was injured.”
Captaincy Under Scrutiny
Mbappe’s situation is quite complex because he was chosen as the national team captain, replacing Antoine Griezmann, who retired from international football on September 30.
Griezmann’s dedication to the French national team was never in question, as the Atletico Madrid forward participated in a record 84 consecutive matches for his country between 2017 and 2024.
Supporters and Leadership Concerns
“As the captain, Mbappe should set an example for the fans, but he hasn’t done so,” stated Fabien Bonnel, spokesperson for the Irresistibles Francais, the primary France supporters’ organization, in an interview with L’Equipe.
There have been reports stating that Deschamps might be considering finding a new captain.
Mbappe’s teammate Aurelien Tchouameni is reportedly one of the options, following a strong start to the season, along with center-back William Saliba, as per L’Equipe.
Patrice Evra’s Take
Former France and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra also had some strong words for Mbappe.
“You granted him access to PSG, you granted him access to the French national team, however, Mbappe is still a young player,” the individual stated on RMC Sport.
“I would not have chosen to give Mbappe the captain’s armband. How do you expect him to stay motivated? If we give him everything, will he still make an effort?”
Upcoming France Fixtures
France, who are second in Group A2, will play against Israel in Budapest on Oct 10 and then travel to Belgium on Oct 14.
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