France national team head coach Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Kylian Mbappe will miss the upcoming UEFA Nations League Group Stage Matchday 5 fixture against Italy on Thursday due to a minor hamstring discomfort.
The announcement came during Zidane’s press conference on Wednesday, where he addressed both the player’s physical condition and ongoing media reports regarding their working relationship. Mbappe did not participate in the final group training session in Milan, opting instead to undergo treatment.
Zidane explained the decision to keep the Real Madrid forward out of the squad, noting that the team prefers not to take any unnecessary risks during a busy portion of the season.
“Kylian will miss tomorrow’s game. He felt a slight pain, and as usual we don’t want to take any risks. These are unfortunate things, but they are part of football, and I hope he will be with us on Sunday.”
Tension Between Mbappe and Zidane Affects Squad Dynamics
The physical issue arises amid widespread reports regarding tension between the national team captain and the newly appointed head coach. Speculation in French media, including L’Équipe, suggested a strained dynamic stemming from Zidane’s tactical decisions during his opening camp, where Mbappe was deployed on the left wing while Ousmane Dembélé played centrally.
Addressing the player’s psychological state following these reports and his omission, Zidane said that the forward wanted to feature against Italy.
France coach Zinedine Zidane confirms Kylian Mbappé is out of tomorrow’s Nations League match against Italy. ‘He is injured, so we will not risk him.’#France #Italy #Azzurri #ITAFRA #RealMadrid #NationsLeague #Calcio pic.twitter.com/3PDe1RBMQv
“I find him in good condition. The proof is that he is still with us. He is not happy, and he wanted to play tomorrow, but we must not take risks, because the season is still long,” said Zidane.
The injury crisis compounds existing absences for Les Bleus, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram also ruled out of the current international window. Zidane expressed frustration over the timing of the fixtures amid heavy club calendars across domestic leagues and the UEFA Champions League.
🔵 OFFICIAL: Zinedine Zidane has confirmed at a press conference that Kylian Mbappé will miss tomorrow’s match between France and Italy. ❌ pic.twitter.com/gkVMsvKWSR
Zidane Uses Squad Depth and Positional Flexibility to Manage Injuries
To cope with the growing injury list, the technical staff turned to depth options, including the inclusion of Siny Mayolo. Zidane praised the youngster’s technical qualities and confirmed that squad selections follow a logical rotation when absences occur.
The coach also discussed positional flexibility for several younger talents, noting that Andy Diouf can operate on the left flank while Warren Zaire-Emery is viewed primarily as a central midfielder.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Kylian Mbappé is OUT vs Italy tomorrow! ❌🇮🇹 Confirmed by Zinédine Zidane. pic.twitter.com/WtoL6GGu6D
Before turning full attention to the match in Italy, Zidane reflected on his playing days with Juventus and the influence of his former manager Marcello Lippi, while also leaving the door open to a potential managerial role in Turin in the future.
France prepares to face Italy on Thursday before concluding the group stage against Turkey on Sunday.
