Kylian Mbappe has returned to the French team for their quarter-final-equal game of Nations League against Croatia, after they have missed the last two international windows.
Mbappe was omitted in October by Didier Deschamps for victories on Israel and Belgium due to an injury shock, was then again omitted for their last games in Nations League Group A2 the following month, despite being suitable for playing club football.
Deschamps said that the last exclusion was a “one-off” and the Real Madrid attacker is back in the fold for this month's two-legged collision with Croatia.
Mbappe-Die 48 goals has performances for France in 86, which means that he also applies nine on their leading sniper Olivier Giroud IS-ZAL in those competitions.
“I spoke with him, I confirm it, he will be captain. It is not my style to continue with the content of the conversations,” said Deschamps at a press conference on Thursday.
Deschamps was then asked about suggestions that Mbappe had a small injury after 120 minutes to play in Madrid's Champions League-Penalty Shoot-out victory in Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, but he believes that the 26-year-old is full to go.
“I have no evidence today, he played 120 minutes. Sometimes I also prefer that a player will not train if it allows him to play afterwards,” said Deschamps.
“I hope that the matches of the weekend will go well for the selected players. I have no evidence that he has a problem.”
Deschamps has also handed Douse Doue his first senior call-up, and he is considering using his teammate of Paris Saint-Germain Central.
Since the turn of the year, Dembele has been in a stunning form, with his 21 goals, at least six more than any other player from Europe's top five competitions has been managed in all competitions in 2025 (Mbappe is second with 16).
This season he played 43% of his minutes as a Center-Forward for PSG, and Deschamps is open to use it there if it allows the attack of France to be fluent.
“Ousmane has always had very high skills in all positions. Now it is smoother because of the efforts he has made,” he said. “He is confident and he has a very high efficiency.
“Mbappe loves the left, but he is a central striker who likes freedom. All my attackers like freedom.
“It is not resolved because the goal is to have an attacking animation that is as dangerous as possible for the opponent.
“In the ideal case, we want to put all players in their best positions, but it is not resolved. We must also be as unpredictable as possible.”
France Squad: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens), Lucas Chevalier (Lille); Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Jonathan Cluss (Nice), Benjamin Pavard, Jules Kounde; Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Manu Kone (Roma); Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain) Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Münchman), Marcus Thuram, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster, Ouster), Ouster, Ouster, Ouster), Oustermen, Ousterman, Ouster) ( Saint-Germain).
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