Headlines: Mbappé Misses Match Against Italy Due to Injury Amid Speculation of Tensions with Zidane
Kylian Mbappé will not participate in Thursday’s UEFA Nations League match against Italy in Milan. French head coach Zinedine Zidane announced on Wednesday that the star forward is sidelined due to a hamstring issue. This comes as French media speculate about potential friction between the two, though the most striking detail in the ongoing Mbappé-Zidane narrative is that the forward will have missed four out of Zidane’s first five games in charge.
In his statement, Zidane reassured the press that Mbappé “felt a little pain and we won’t take any risk.” He believes the injury is minor and expressed optimism that Mbappé will be ready to return for France’s upcoming match against Turkey in Bordeaux on Sunday. The captain did not participate in Wednesday’s training session, although Zidane noted that he finds Mbappé in good spirits and eager to play.
As France faces challenging circumstances, Senny Mayulu from PSG has received his first senior call-up, while Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi steps in to replace the injured Marcus Thuram. It is likely that Désiré Doué will take on the role of central striker. Italy’s mentor, Roberto Mancini, took a light-hearted jab, suggesting to reporters that “I would suggest he doesn’t risk it,” particularly in light of Real Madrid’s upcoming Champions League fixtures.
The stakes for France are high; they have achieved three victories and one draw in their four group games. A win against Italy could secure their place in the quarterfinals.
In examining the facts, it is noteworthy that Mbappé previously scored the winning goal against Turkey in September before sustaining a left-knee injury that forced him out of the following three matches. He returned to the squad only to suffer this hamstring setback. Under Zidane’s supervision, France’s all-time leading scorer has been available for just one game.
Reports of friction primarily stem from L’Équipe. Following Goal’s analysis of the coverage, it is evident that Zidane utilized Mbappé in a wide position during September’s matches, with Ousmane Dembélé playing as the central forward. This shift could be interpreted as a decrease in status for Mbappé and an increase for Dembélé. Communication between the coach and the player has also reportedly been a bit cooler when compared to the previous regime of Didier Deschamps. However, Zidane has since announced that Mbappé would play in his preferred central role against both Italy and Turkey, particularly given Dembélé’s absence due to injury.
The current relationship dynamics suggest a mixture of injury and unease, but it remains unproven. The situation raises a question: is it connected to injury or underlying tensions? For now, the evidence leans toward injury, albeit with hints of discord that have not been officially acknowledged. With several other players like Thuram, Tchouaméni, and Dembélé also sidelined, Zidane cannot be held accountable for the four matches Mbappé has missed. Until both athletes can share the pitch more frequently, the narrative of tension between Mbappé and Zidane may largely be centered around injuries and a depleted French squad.
