France captain Kylian Mbappé has been ruled out of the upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Italy following a hamstring injury. The Real Madrid forward missed training on Wednesday, and the French squad will face Italy at the San Siro on Thursday without him, according to reports from the French sports daily L’Equipe.
In response to the fitness concerns within his attacking ranks, France coach Zinedine Zidane has handed a maiden senior call-up to 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward Senny Mayulu. Mayulu, who was previously training with the Under-21 squad, is expected to travel to Milan to join the team. His inclusion follows the earlier addition of 20-year-old Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who was brought in to replace Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram after he withdrew from the squad with a hamstring injury.
Despite the current setback, there is a possibility that Mbappé could return for France’s final group-stage match against Turkey, scheduled for Sunday in Bordeaux. The French team currently sits at the top of their Nations League group and aims to secure a place in the quarterfinals, which are set to take place in March.
Key facts
- Kylian Mbappé will miss the Nations League match against Italy on Thursday in Milan due to a hamstring injury.
- PSG forward Senny Mayulu, 20, has received his first call-up to the French senior international squad.
- Marcus Thuram withdrew from the team after sustaining a hamstring injury.
- Eli Junior Kroupi, a 20-year-old Bournemouth forward, was added to the squad following Thuram's withdrawal.
- France leads their Nations League group and can qualify for the March quarter-finals with a win over Italy.
Why it matters
France heads into the match at the San Siro needing a victory to guarantee their advancement to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League. The management of these injuries remains critical for the team as they look toward their final group-stage fixture against Turkey on Sunday.
Source: The Hindu, Times of India
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