One of the major debates within the France national team in recent months has faded into irrelevance in recent times. Kylian Mbappé (25) has been playing more frequently through the middle for Les Bleus, but in the last two international breaks, he hasn’t been on the pitch at all.
Begrudgingly, he was part of the camp in September, however, on the basis of fitness, he was omitted from the squad in October. But given that the former Paris Saint-Germain forward played in Real Madrid’s final game before that international break, this official line was contested.
A recall was expected this month but it was not forthcoming with Deschamps stating that it was a one-off decision, adding that it had nothing to do with non-sporting matters, a reference to reports that the France captain is the subject of an ongoing rape investigation in Sweden, where he holidayed during the last international break.
When Mbappé does return to the fold, likely in the next international break in March, the question of his positioning on the pitch will once again become a relevant one. In recent times, for club and country, he has been played centrally. That re-positioning has coincided with a downturn in form on an individual level, with Thierry Henry notably stating that the Real Madrid forward lacks the instincts of a No.9.
However, Deschamps has defended his decision to play Mbappé centrally, noting that Luis Enrique at PSG and Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid made the same decision. “You’ll maybe say that I’m crazy by putting Mbappé as a centre-forward but his last two managers at international level have done the same thing,” he told Téléfoot.
He added, “He doesn’t have the same profile as Olivier Giroud, of course, so it all depends on what team we’re coming up against.”
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
