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  • France coach Deschamps declares Kylian Mbappe return

    France coach Deschamps declares Kylian Mbappe return

    France coach Didier Deschamps says Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe will be back for their Nations League quarterfinal against Croatia in March.

    After missing several games, Deschamps says Mbappe will also wear captain’s armband.

    He said today at his France media conference: “I think Kylian has managed the transition well after the retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane. He has taken on the role of captain with Antoine Griezmann as his assistant. The events of the autumn do not change his status as a leader, nor what he is capable of doing.

    “He has the right to go through a difficult period. I have always said that France is stronger with Mbappé on the pitch. The media court has issued its verdict without him even being heard by the Swedish justice system. He has been attacked for weeks, but Kylian knows that, for better or for worse, people will always talk about him. However, on certain issues, the situation is much more complex than it seem.”

    Deschamps also returned to the much-discussed omissions: “Before the list of players called up, the day before, there was the possibility that he would play in Lille in the Champions League. In the end, he came on for half an hour, not yet in top condition. After a discussion with the medical staff, it was decided to let him recover fully. When I drew up my list, I chose not to call him up. It was not a sanction, but a decision based on his physical form and the evaluations made together with him.”

    Deschamps finally downplayed the controversy over October, adding: “Kylian depends on Real Madrid’s program, which gave him five days of rest. During that time he could do what he wanted. Whether he was in Stockholm or elsewhere, he would not have gone unnoticed.

    “Yes, it was during a France match, but that did not stop him from maintaining contact with me and his teammates. The situation was exaggerated. In the end, it was not even a storm in a teacup, but just a few drops of rain. If he was not listened to by the authorities, it is because he had nothing to do with it. It was an excessive media fuss.”

  • Henry insists Mbappe not doing enough for Madrid

    Henry insists Mbappe not doing enough for Madrid

    Former France international Thierry Henry insists Kylian Mbappe is underperforming for Real Madrid.

    Mbappé has managed eight goals and two assists in 13 competitive matches for his new club.

    But Henry emphasises that it is not enough that Mbappé scores goals, but with Real Madrid more is required.

    “Is he playing at his best level as we have seen him play at PSG? No. He still has to learn. He has to play better as a ‘nine’, which is very difficult for him right now,” he told CBS Sports.

    “He scores goals, but sometimes it is not enough in such clubs (like Real Madrid). I’ll play devil’s advocate: we always say it takes time for a player to adapt to a new club, but unfortunately, when you wear that shirt, they don’t give you much time.”

    Tribalfootball

  • Mbappe priority now Real Madrid and not France – Valbuena

    Mbappe priority now Real Madrid and not France – Valbuena

    Former France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena has taken aim at Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe.

    Valbuena has questioned Mbappe’s commitment to France, with the striker out of Les Bleus’ squad this week.

    Now with Athens Kallithea, Valbuena told RMC Sport: “Being captain is not just a piece of cloth around your arm, it also means having responsibilities on and off the pitch.

    “And I think it would have been important for him to be there for those games, even though he knew he was tired. He could have been there for the group, that’s also the captain. He’s also part of the French national team, he could have been there and his decision is quite strange.

    “What surprises the French national team fans is the fact that he is not in the selection and that he would play this weekend against Villarreal. Mbappé’s priority, I think, is not the French national team but Real Madrid. He arrives at a new club, he knows he has everything to prove and that it is not easy to do it there. I think he is giving everything he can to do it… We saw his last outings with France, he was not a great Mbappé, even in the way he played, we had the impression that he was not there”.”

  • Aurelien Tchouameni to captain France against Israel

    Aurelien Tchouameni to captain France against Israel

    Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will captain France for their Nations League game against Israel on Thursday in the absence of Kylian Mbappe, the French federation said on Wednesday.

    The federation said his Real Madrid team mate Mbappe, the usual captain, is skipping the Nations League games against Israel and Belgium.

    Tchouameni was one of the favourites with fullback Jules Kounde and keeper Mike Maignan.

    Mbappe, who join Real as a free agent from Paris St Germain during the close season, has faced criticism in France for not taking part in the double header in Budapest and Brussels while being fit to play for the Spanish club.

  • Mbappe under fire for skipping national duty while fit to play for Madrid

    Mbappe under fire for skipping national duty while fit to play for Madrid

    France captain Kylian Mbappe is facing criticism in his home country for skipping Les Bleus’ Nations League games against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for Real Madrid.

    The forward picked up a muscle injury last month but made his return to the pitch in the Champions League last Wednesday.

    France coach Didier Deschamps left Mbappe out of the squad he announced on Thursday, saying the 25-year-old lacked preparation, having played too few matches.

    Mbappe started Real’s La Liga game against Villarreal on Saturday.

    “Either you’re injured, and you don’t play with your club and you’re not called up in the national team,” former France international Maxime Bossis told French sports daily L’Equipe on Monday.

    “But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game, it makes things fuzzy. He’s a special player. We’ve known that with Michel Platini, when we still wanted him with us when he was injured.”

    Mbappe’s situation is more complicated because the former Paris St Germain player is the national team captain after being handed the armband ahead of Antoine Griezmann, who last week announced his retirement from international football.

    Griezmann’s commitment to Les Bleus was never in doubt as the Atletico Madrid forward played a record 84 consecutive matches for his country between 2017 and 2024.

    “As a captain (Mbappe) must be an example for the fans, and he has not been,” Fabien Bonnet, spokesperson for the Irresistibles Francais, the main France supporters’ group, told L’Equipe.

    “What emerges is that the real captain, Antoine Griezmann, is gone.”

    France, second in Group A, face Israel in Budapest on Thursday and travel to Belgium next Monday.

  • Mbappe fires blank as Madrid struggle to breakdown Mallorca

    Mbappe fires blank as Madrid struggle to breakdown Mallorca

    Madrid’s star-studded side struggled to break down Mallorca, who came closer to winning the game in the final stages at Son Moix Stadium. French superstar Kylian Mbappe was thwarted by Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif, and after Rodrygo Goes put Madrid ahead early on, the hosts equalized in the second half through Vedat Muriqi’s towering header.

     

    Madrid defender Ferland Mendy was sent off in stoppage time for a high challenge on Muriqi.

     

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded the same starting line-up that defeated Atalanta to win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, featuring Jude Bellingham in midfield behind the attacking trio of Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo.

     

    Mallorca coach Jagoba Arrasate faced his first match in charge of the Copa del Rey runners-up against the reigning champions bolstered by Mbappe’s arrival. However, his team rose to the challenge and earned a commendable point.

     

    Madrid, who lost just once last season on their way to the title, started quickly and took the lead after a slick combination between their Brazilian forwards. Vinicius rolled the ball back for Rodrygo, who bent a shot into the far corner beyond Greif’s reach.

     

    Greif tipped away another Rodrygo effort, and Mbappe sent a shot wide as Madrid maintained their dominance but couldn’t expand their advantage. Arrasate urged his players to stay in the game until half-time, and they did, shutting down Los Blancos’ stars.

     

    Muriqi came close before the break for the hosts, and tough-tackling defender Pablo Maffeo was booked for a rough challenge on Vinicius.

     

    Mallorca leveled early in the second half with Muriqi powering a header home from Dani Rodriguez’s corner. Greif saved low from Mbappe at his near post, and Vinicius lashed over as Ancelotti’s side sought to regain the lead.

     

    Ancelotti brought on veteran Luka Modric, turning 39 in September, for defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, hoping for more fluidity in attack against Mallorca’s solid defense. Mbappe came close again, but Greif denied him, and Johan Mojica cleared the rebound before Rodrygo could reach it.

     

    Mallorca stabilized and held their ground in the final stages, leaving Mbappe disappointed on his league debut.

  • Real Madrid unveils Kyllian Mbappe

    Real Madrid unveils Kyllian Mbappe

    French Striker,  Kylian Mbappe has officially joined La Liga side, Real Madrid, following his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after his contract expired at the end of last season.

    The 25-year-old forward was presented at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, where he donned the iconic number 9 jersey.

    This number has been famously worn by legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Ronaldo, Javier Saviola, and Roberto Soldado.

    Mbappe who didn’t have a fantastic Euro tournament  scored just  one goal via a penalty against Poland.

    It would be recalled that he played wearing a mask after breaking his nose.

    The forward would lllater described his performance at the tournament as a “failure.”

    “In football, you’re either good or not good. I wasn’t good. My Euro was a failure,” Mbappe admitted. “I wanted to be European champion. Now, I will go on holiday, rest well, which will do me a lot of good, and then get ready to start a new life. There’s a lot to do.”

  • My Euros was a failure, I will go on holiday – Mbappe

    My Euros was a failure, I will go on holiday – Mbappe

    France captain Kylian Mbappe has admitted that he had a miserable Euro 2024.

    The Real Madrid-bound striker has been extremely self-critical of his displays for Les Bleus throughout the tournament in Germany.

    Mbappe, whose team lost 2-1 to Spain in the semi final, felt that his Euro 2024 campaign was a failure.

    “In football you’re good or not good. I wasn’t good,” he said to reporters post-game.

    “My Euros was a failure.

    “I wanted to be European champion… I will now go on holiday.

    “I will rest well, it will do me a lot of good, then I will get ready to start a new life. There’s a lot to do.”

  • Tired Mbappe asked to go off against Portugal – Deschamps

    Tired Mbappe asked to go off against Portugal – Deschamps

    French striker and captain Kylian Mbappe, asked to be substituted during extra-time in the Euro 2024 quarter-final win over Portugal because he was tired, his coach Didier Deschamps said.

    The usually prolific Mbappe has not been at his best during the Euros, scoring once from the penalty spot against Poland, but otherwise failing to convert chances and looking uncomfortable in a mask.

    This was after he broke his nose in the first game.

    Against Portugal in the quarter-finals on Friday night, he spent time on the ground and briefly removed his mask.

    This was following a hard hit from the ball on the side of his face, before later asking to be taken off and missing the shootout.

    “Yes, he’s always very honest with me and the team, when he feels he doesn’t have the capacity to accelerate…

    “He’s not at his top form … he felt very tired indeed,” Deschamps said, referring to muscle fatigue and the nose issue.

    “I saw him struggling during the first period of extra time. It was pointless (to leave him on).

    “Kylian has always been honest with me and the group, so it was only natural to bring in some new blood.”

    In his absence, Mbappe’s teammates did him proud, scoring a perfect five penalties to beat Portugal 5-3.

  • We’re all happy with Mbappe deal – Carvajal

    We’re all happy with Mbappe deal – Carvajal

    Real Madrid fullback Dani Carvajal has welcomed Kylian Mbappe’s arrival.

    The star striker will leave PSG for Real next month, as was confirmed this week.

    Carvajal told Vanitis: “We are very happy with the hiring of Mbappé. We will welcome him with great enthusiasm, he is a great player.

    “What seemed like a foregone conclusion… We are very happy, he will help us. We are very happy, yes, we are.”

    Finally, when asked if he has recovered from the celebrations for the Decimoquinta, he replied: “Don’t believe it, I still need hours of sleep!”