(Leipzig) The captain of the France team Kylian Mbappé, victim of a broken nose, will be a substitute at the kick-off of the Blues’ second match at Euro-2024 against the Netherlands this Friday in Leipzig.
In the absence of the Blues superstar, coach Didier Deschamps made only one change to the starting eleven lined up against Austria (1-0) on Monday, with the return of Aurélien Tchouaméni to midfield.
Mbappé, who was injured in a collision with Austrian defender Kevin Danso, participated in training on Thursday with a blue-white-red mask but then did not take part in the collective exercises, like the day before.
After two days spent away from the group, the management did not want to take any risks with their best element, despite the stakes of the meeting since the Blues could obtain their qualification for the round of 16 in the event of success against the Dutch.
Shortly before Thursday’s session, Didier Deschamps had nevertheless indicated at a press conference that the striker’s injury was progressing “in the right direction” and that the staff would “ensure that he is available” to face the Oranje.
Without Mbappé, the coach had to review his offensive animation by placing Marcus Thuram back in the center, although he was very disappointing against Austria.
The Inter Milan player will be accompanied by Antoine Griezmann with Ousmane Dembélé on the right and Adrien Rabiot on the left, in a position reminiscent of that of Blaise Matuidi during the victorious campaign of the French team at the 2018 World Cup.
The surprise comes from the start in the middle of Tchouaméni, who has been nursing an injury to his left foot for almost a month and whose last appearance on the field dates from May 8. N’Golo Kanté, impressive against Austria, does not move, just like the composition of the defense (Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Théo Hernandez).
France: Maignan-Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez-Dembélé, Kanté, Tchouaméni, Rabiot-Griezmann (cap.), Thuram
Coach: Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Pays-Bas: Verbruggen – Dumfries, Van Dijk, De Vrij, Aké – Frimpong, Schouten, Reijnders – Gakpo, Depay, Simons
Coach: Ronald Koeman (NED)
