France captain Kylian Mbappe has been omitted from the squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches this month, as announced by coach Didier Deschamps. Despite making a comeback from a brief injury layoff to feature as a substitute in Real Madrid's recent Champions League loss to Lille, Mbappe will not be taking part in France's upcoming fixtures against Israel and Belgium. This decision has been taken in order to give the 25-year-old striker some much-needed rest and time to focus on his fitness.
"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 told reporters in Paris.
France play Israel on Thursday, October 10 in an away fixture moved to Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East.
Les Bleus, Nations League winners in 2021, will then take on Belgium in Brussels on Monday, October 14.
France have three points after their first two outings in Group A2, which is topped by Italy with six points.
Thursday's squad announcement was the first by Deschamps since vice-captain Antoine Griezmann retired from international football at the beginning of this week.
"He had such an impact that we can't play in the same way," Deschamps said of losing Griezmann, who quit aged 33 after winning 137 caps.
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"I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player."
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Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku, who won the last of his 10 caps in June last year, returns to the squad, from which midfielder N'Golo Kante is also left out.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)