France lose Mbappé to knee injury as Zidane faces squad dilemma
Kylian Mbappé will leave the France squad after sustaining a left‑knee injury on Friday, the day he scored the solitary goal in a 1‑0 win over Turkey in the UEFA Nations League. The striker was forced off early in the second half and will miss the remaining three fixtures.
Zidane confirms captain’s withdrawal
In his first match in charge of the ‘Bleus’, Zinédine Zidane was asked by TF1 about the status of his captain. “He is not well, unfortunately,” the French manager admitted, adding that the player would have to depart the camp.
After the goal, which came from a low‑drive following a pass from Michael Olise, Mbappé struggled to walk and received medical attention before being replaced by Désiré Doué. He limped off, exchanged a brief greeting with Zidane on the bench and headed straight to the dressing room.
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Zidane later explained the decision, saying, “We will not take any risks. He suffered a hyper‑extension in the knee.” The French coach’s comments were recorded by TF1 during the post‑match interview.
France now face Belgium on 28 September and 5 October, followed by Italy on 2 October in the same competition. All three games will be played without Mbappé.
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The injury leaves a significant gap in France’s attacking options as they aim to secure a top‑two finish in their Nations League group.