Kylian Mbappé Ruled Out Against Italy Due to Injury; Senny Mayulu Called Up to France Squad

Kylian Mbappé will miss France’s UEFA Nations League match against Italy on Thursday at San Siro due to a left hamstring issue, though staff hope he can return against Turkey on Sunday, according to France Info.

France coach Zinédine Zidane confirmed the forward’s absence during a Wednesday press conference at Clairefontaine, noting that the captain stayed behind for treatment while teammates trained before flying to Milan. According to Orange Actualités, the Real Madrid attacker did not participate in Wednesday’s session.

“Kylian will be out tomorrow. He felt a small pain, as usual we are not going to take any risks,” Zidane said, as reported by France Info.

“These are regrettable things, but it is part of the game. I hope it is not bad and that we can have him on Sunday,” Zidane added.

“I find him well, the proof is that he is staying with us, he wants to play on Sunday. He is not happy. He would have liked to play tomorrow. When you have a feeling, you must take zero risk because the season is long,” Zidane said.

The French squad has lost multiple players to injuries during the international window. Pierre Kalulu, Marcus Thuram, and Aurélien Tchouaméni also withdrew from the roster, according to Orange Actualités. Ousmane Dembélé is also absent due to injury. Previously, Tchouaméni had scored the winning goal against Turkey during his debut under Zidane, though he was forced off with a left knee injury during that match.

Saël Kumbedi and Eli Junior Kroupi replaced Kalulu and Thuram respectively. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Senny Mayulu was called up in place of Tchouaméni, joining fellow newcomers in the national team setup. Along with Pablo Pagis, four players are discovering the senior squad during this gathering.

Senny Mayulu joins the senior squad after impressive performances for Paris Saint-Germain. Avec son profil, sa polyvalence lui permet de prêter main forte au milieu ou dans la ligne offensive des Bleus pour donner des options à Zidane.

France sits comfortably in the race for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals. Even a defeat in Italy on Thursday (20:45) would suffice to secure their spot if Belgium fails to defeat Turkey.

France faces Italy on Thursday evening at San Siro stadium in Milan for their UEFA Nations League fixture.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Senny Mayulu joined the national team in place of the injured Real Madrid player.

France’s coaching staff expressed hope that their captain can return for Sunday’s final group match against Turkey in Bordeaux.

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