Milan, Nov 12:
France captain Kylian Mbappé has been ruled out of Thursday’s UEFA Nations League Group A1 fixture against Italy in Milan after experiencing minor hamstring discomfort during training, head coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the match at the San Siro, Zidane said the medical staff opted for caution rather than risking aggravation. “He will miss tomorrow, he felt a little pain and we won’t take any risk,” Zidane stated. “It’s a shame to lose players but it’s part of the game. I hope that it’s nothing too serious and that he’ll be available for Sunday… It’s just a minor issue.”
The Real Madrid forward, who has scored 17 goals across all club competitions this season, had only recently returned to international duty after missing France’s previous three matches due to a knee injury. With three wins and a draw from four group matches, victory over Roberto Mancini’s Italy will guarantee Les Bleus qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals ahead of Sunday’s home fixture against Turkey in Bordeaux.