France coach Zinedine Zidane don confirm say Kylian Mbappé no go play Thursday night UEFA Nations League match against Italy for Milan because of hamstring problem. Mbappé no train on Wednesday, and Zidane tell reporters for pre-match press conference say dem no go take risk with the Real Madrid striker. The coach talk say the player get ‘a bit of discomfort, nothing major,’ and e suppose dey fine for Sunday when France host Türkiye for Bordeaux.
Zidane also add say France go face Italy without their captain, but the team still get enough options. Italy coach Roberto Mancini been ask about Mbappé absence, and e joke say e go advise the striker no to risk am. Mancini talk say Champions League dey come for Real Madrid, so e better make Mbappé no play tomorrow. But e serious when e yan say France get plenty forwards, each one better than the next, and na hard work to choose.
France don call up Paris Saint-Germain forward Senny Mayulu to join the squad. The 20-year-old been dey Clairefontaine with Under-21 team, and e go travel later Wednesday to Milan. Mayulu join another 20-year-old newcomer, Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, wey replace Marcus Thuram. Thuram, wey dey play for Inter Milan, also get hamstring injury.
France dey top their Nations League group, and if dem beat Italy at San Siro, dem go reach quarterfinals in March.
Real Madrid dey monitor Mbappé fitness. The striker don score 17 goals in 16 appearances and e dey on seven-game scoring streak. Reports say if the hamstring issue be full injury, France for don send am home, but since e remain with the squad, e likely say the problem no too bad. If e miss Italy, e go get three extra days to recover before Sunday match against Türkiye.
Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni don return to Madrid after right adductor injury. E only spend few days with France before dem send am back, and e dey undergo further tests to know how serious the injury be.
