It’s all kicking off for France and Kylian Mbappe.
Les Bleus’ captain, who skipped the last international break despite not being injured, has been left out again, and it appears this time it may not be his choice.
France coach Didier Deschamps announced his squad for the Nations League without his captain, and left the door open to mass speculation by saying he wouldn’t explain his decision to the media.
“I’m aware that this will occupy a lot of media attention, but I’m not going to go into explanations or anything. Because I don’t see the point in doing so,” Deschamps said.
It was instantly assumed in Spain that Mbappe or Real Madrid had requested that he was again left out to regain fitness, but the club themselves put that to bed by telling various outlets ‘It wasn’t our decision’.
With the reality sinking in that Mbappe has been dropped, perhaps in relation to his infamous trip to Sweden, the talk is now about how big the ramifications of this decision will be.
Mbappe was roundly criticised for dropping out of the previous squad, leaving a leadership void as his vice captain, Antoine Griezmann, had just retired.
And Cadena SER’s Miguel Martín Talavera believes it’s an attempt to readress the balance, saying: “The coach was not happy about his absence during the previous break to go to the famous Stockholm party, but it was much worse for his teammates.
“They were not happy at all that he was chosen as captain ahead of Griezmann and they let him go.
“Maybe it has to do with the Atlético de Madrid player’s departure from the national team. To control the atmosphere in the dressing room, Deschamps has decided to get rid of Mbappé.”
Meanwhile, former France international Jérôme Rothen thinks the call will echo for months to come.
“Within the group, the fact that it was Didier who made the decision not to call Kylian Mbappé, that will leave its mark,” he said.
“How can you explain to your group that your leader, your captain, didn’t come because he had to be protected? And that in March he’s the one who’s going to represent the group? No, that’s impossible. That won’t be accepted in the locker room. We’ve been there. It won’t be accepted.”
Fellow former France international Jean-Michel Larqué added: “He simply and cleanly kicked Mbappé out of the French team, he kicked him out!”
RMC editor Daniele Riolo was in agreement, adding: “It’s a punishment, it’s a sanction! He doesn’t say it because he doesn’t want to drive the point home and tear the relationship apart a bit too much.
“We may have forgotten it but last time, Mbappé made him look like an idiot. Deschamps came in front of the microphones to say that Mbappé was a little injured. Three days later, he was starting for Real Madrid.”
Carlo Ancelotti has since commented on the hot topic of the day, saying: Present at the conference, Carlo Ancelotti addressed the non-call-up of Kylian Mbappé to the French team: “I have not spoken about it with him, and I do not want to speak about it with him because it is a matter with the coach of his national team.
“I do not have the right to judge his decisions. He made this decision and we must accept it. I am not going to allow myself to judge this kind of decision. Mbappé is good, motivated, he is in a slump like everyone else (here at Real). And he is motivated to come out of this situation on top.”
Leave a Reply