France head coach Didier Deschamps opted to rest star forward Kylian Mbappe for the side’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel and Belgium in order to allow the Real Madrid man to rest and work on his fitness.
Mbappe returned from a short stint out of action following a thigh injury, as he came off the bench in Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat at Lille in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
France are slated to take on Israel on October 10 in an away fixture moved to Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East, before travelling to Brussels for their clash against Belgium on October 14.
“I had an exchange with Kylian. He has a problem which is not serious. I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad,” Deschamps said.
France have managed to amass three points in their first two games in Group A2.
Deschamps will also be devoid of the abilities of Frace’s long term loyal servant Antoine Griezmann, who called time on international football earlier in the week. The forward was an integral part of the France outfit for 137 games in a successful era for the national side.
“He had such an impact that we can’t play in the same way,” Deschamps said.
“I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player.”
Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku has earned a call back to the national unit, while another notable absentee on the list being N’Golo Kante.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan/ITA), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani (all Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea/ENG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)
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