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Kylian Mbappé and Ibrahima Konaté await ankle tests, but Deschamps says Mbappé’s injury isn’t serious as France prepare for upcoming matches.
France and Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe (X)
France captain Kylian Mbappé is set to undergo medical examinations on his right ankle after picking up a knock during Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday, national team coach Didier Deschamps confirmed on Monday.
The injury scare comes just as Les Bleus reconvene at Clairefontaine ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifying double-header against Azerbaijan and Iceland — fixtures France enter as group leaders after a perfect start to their campaign.
Deschamps: “It’s Not Serious, Otherwise He Wouldn’t Be Here”
Speaking to reporters at the French national team’s training base outside Paris, Deschamps downplayed immediate concerns over his star forward’s fitness.
“I spoke with Kylian. He had a small niggle, but it’s not serious — otherwise he wouldn’t be here today,” the coach said. “We’ll take the time with the medical staff to assess the situation and then see how it develops.”
Deschamps added that the full extent of Mbappé’s condition would become clearer once the entire squad assembled later in the day.
“I don’t have any further information at this stage as the players will be arriving around 4 p.m. (1400 GMT), so we’ll take stock then, as usual,” he noted.
More Injury Worries for Les Bleus
Mbappé isn’t the only fitness concern for France ahead of this week’s fixtures. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté will also undergo medical checks after coming off injured during the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
With France already missing several key players this season due to injuries, Deschamps faces another balancing act in maintaining rhythm while managing workloads.
France, who top their World Cup qualifying group with two wins from two matches, will host Azerbaijan at Parc des Princes on Friday, before travelling to Reykjavik to face Iceland three days later.
(with AFP inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
October 06, 2025, 20:33 IST
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