French football captain Kylian Mbappé has yet to participate in a training session under new coach Zinedine Zidane. On September 22, Mbappé stayed at rest at Clairefontaine due to a flu-like syndrome, three days before France's Nations League match against Turkey. His health condition kept him away from the team as his teammates trained with the new coach. Mbappé also missed lunch with the rest of the squad.
This development marks the beginning of Zidane's tenure as France's coach, following Didier Deschamps' departure. Zidane has 23 players at his disposal to prepare for his first matches and has used training sessions at Clairefontaine to implement his tactics. However, Mbappé's absence delays the team's first attempts with their captain in the new setup. Zidane has been working with a 4-3-3 formation, using Ousmane Dembélé in the offensive axis during drills.
Mbappé's situation is significant, given his history with Zidane. Although both have a long association with Real Madrid, Zidane has never coached Mbappé before. The two met when Mbappé was a teenager, well before his move to Madrid in 2024. Zidane confirmed Mbappé as his captain when announcing his first squad on September 18.
The focus now shifts to Mbappé's ability to return to team training quickly. France faces Turkey on September 25 at Kocaeli, Zidane's first match as coach. No announcement has been made about Mbappé's withdrawal from the match. His progress in the coming hours will determine if he can participate in the final preparation sessions and potentially start on Friday.
Mbappé's absence occurs as Zidane needs to establish his offensive strategy within a short timeframe. The coach has already tested different combinations without his captain, using Dembélé in the axis. At 27, Mbappé has considerable international experience, having made over 100 appearances for France and ranking high among the team's all-time goal scorers.
As captain since 2023, Mbappé's relationship with Zidane on the field is yet to begin. Two days into the squad gathering, he awaits his first team training under the new coach. Zidane's tactics and Mbappé's role in them will be closely watched in the upcoming match against Turkey.
France's match against Turkey on September 25 will be a crucial test for Zidane's new team and Mbappé's readiness to lead. The outcome will provide insights into how well the team has adapted to Zidane's strategies and how quickly Mbappé can integrate into the squad.
Key points
- Kylian Mbappé misses training due to illness, delaying his integration with Zinedine Zidane's tactics.
- Zidane starts his tenure as France coach without key player Mbappé.
- France faces Turkey in a crucial Nations League match on September 25.
