The non-call-up of Kylian Mbappé for the second international break of the season caused a series of debates which the French football team would have done well without. First there was his tenure with Real Madrid, against Villareal on October 5, five days before the Blues’ first match against Israel (4-1). However, the reason given to justify the absence of the French captain was an injury. “He has a problem which is not serious, but which requires treatment to be able to recover well”had wanted to justify the coach, Didier Deschamps, before the meeting.
Then, photos published by the Swedish press on Friday October 11, revealing an excursion by the star striker to Stockholm, the evening of the Blues’ victory, reignited the embers that were just asking for it. A new fire that defender Wesley Fofana tried to put out the next day at a press conference, before the French team traveled to Belgium on Monday as part of the Nations League: “Everyone does what they want with their free time (…) [Kylian Mbappé] is a great guy, a great professional, he manages his career the way he wants. »
A declaration which aims for appeasement and which found echo in the comments of the community Mattéo Guendouzi, also invited to speak on the subject: “There is no need to question his attachment to the French team, with everything he has already done (…) We have no doubt about Kylian. We spoke to him on the phone before the match, we spoke to him by message, he is attached to us and to the France team. We were disappointed that he wasn’t there to help us. »
“From time to time, you go a little hard”
In addition to his various summer soap operas – his adaptation to Spain or the persistent tensions with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (2017-2024) – the 25-year-old striker continues to suffer from his star status. This constant media attention was denounced by his teammates in the selection. “I don’t know if we’re doing too much with Kylian, but from an outside opinion, I find that from time to time, you [les médias] go a little hard”noted Wesley Fofana. Followed by Mattéo Guendouzi: “We have to stop talking about him too much, you live from that too, talking about him every day. »
The mere absence of the captain of the Blues is not enough to explain the bitterness felt by a section of the supporters of the France team. The failure in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 against Spain (1-2), the game advocated and the place taken by Didier Deschamps (in post since 2012), as well as the surprise international retirement of Antoine Griezmann form a whole capable of igniting with the slightest spark. Still, the Tricolores will have to quickly refocus on sports, as they go to Brussels on Monday, to face the Red Devils, determined to take their revenge, after the defeat of September 9 (2-0) and their elimination in round of 16 of the European Nations Championship (0-1) this summer.
