Kylian Mbappé on Thursday was included in Didier Deschamps’ squad for France‘s Nations League quarterfinals vs. Croatia on March 20 and 23, after more than six months out of the team.
There were doubts as to whether Mbappé would keep the captaincy but Deschamps confirmed he will.
“I spoke to him, I discussed it with him,” Deschamps said. “He will be captain.”
The 2018 World Cup winner was left out of Nations League matches against Israel and Italy last November, when Deschamps said ” it’s better that way ” and added that Mbappé’s struggles were physical and mental.
Mbappé was also absent from a previous gathering because of a minor thigh injury, but nevertheless played for Real Madrid. He last appeared for Les Bleus on Sept. 9 against Belgium in the Nations League.
He scored a hat trick in the 2022 World Cup final and the 26-year-old Mbappé is third on France’s all-time scoring list with 48 goals, behind Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (57).
In December, an alleged rape investigation in Stockholm that Swedish media said focused on Mbappé was dropped.
In an interview that aired on French TV station Canal Plus, Mbappé said he had not even been contacted by Swedish authorities and he reacted with disbelief when reports emerged following his visit to Stockholm.
His teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was absent from the last squad due to injury, will also be included, as will Paris Saint-Germain‘s Ousmane Dembélé.
Real Madrid‘s Eduardo Camavinga and Barcelona‘s Jules Koundé, both regulars in the French coach’s squad, were also included.
Deschamps has also added young PSG striker Désiré Doué, whom the coach credited with demonstrating great quality at his club and who will be eligible to make his debut for the senior team at 19 years of age.
Doué has been impressive in recent weeks, using his speed and skill to good effect in the Champions League last-16 win against Liverpool.
“He’s a very young player but he’s a very interesting one for us,” Deschamps said.
France face Croatia in Split next Thursday with the return leg on March 23 at the Stade de France.
Complete squad:
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Jules Koundé (FC Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Benjamin Pavard (Internazionale), Theo Hernández (AC Milan), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio), Manu Koné (AS Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Désiré Doué (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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