Kylian Mbappé has been left out of the France squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy, with national team coach Didier Deschamps describing the decision as a “one-off.” Despite Mbappé expressing his desire to join the squad, Deschamps chose to omit the Real Madrid forward for this international window.
The 25-year-old, who has been in good form for Real Madrid, scoring eight goals in 15 appearances this season, has not been at his best in recent outings. He has scored only once in his past six games, which has led to some scrutiny of his performances. In particular, Mbappé’s struggles in high-profile matches have raised questions, especially as his preferred position on the left wing has seen him sometimes overshadowed by teammate Vinícius Júnior.
Deschamps, speaking to the media on Thursday, did not indicate whether Mbappé was injured but confirmed that the decision was a deliberate and temporary one. The French coach made it clear that it was a “one-off decision,” suggesting that it was not a permanent exclusion.
The French national team will face Israel on November 14 and Italy on November 17, as part of their Nations League campaign. Mbappé’s omission from the squad is surprising, given his status as one of the team’s key players, and follows a somewhat challenging start to the season with Real Madrid.
Though Mbappé’s performances with Madrid have been solid overall, his recent lack of impact in crucial games, including a 3-1 Champions League loss to AC Milan earlier this week, may have influenced Deschamps’ choice. Despite this, Mbappé’s desire to be included in the France squad indicates his commitment to representing his country.
The decision not to call up Mbappé for these two Nations League matches leaves a question mark over his future in the upcoming international windows, although Deschamps has emphasized that this decision is isolated to these fixtures and does not necessarily reflect a shift in Mbappé’s long-term role with the national team.
