Ankle injury forces Ethan Mbappé out for several weeks

Ethan Mbappé left the pitch with an injury after just a dozen minutes of play during France U21’s gathering, and the FFF confirmed his withdrawal from the rest of the camp. The attacking midfielder at Lille is suffering from a right ankle injury; according to L’Équipe, his unavailability is expected to last around three weeks, though Lille must conduct further tests to refine this diagnosis.

It was nonetheless a first U21 call-up for the 18-year-old player, who was on his second selection with the Bleuets. He was replaced by Jean-Mattéo Bahoya. The absence should cost him the start of Ligue 1 with Lille, and it compounds a suspension in the Ligue des Champions, following a red card received against Betis.

Ethan Mbappé is not the only absentee from the gathering. Senny Mayulu, injured in the thigh during the victory in Estonia (0-2), is also ruled out for the final two matches. To address these absences in midfield, manager Gérald Baticle called up just one replacement: Nantes’ Dehmaine Tabibou.

The U21s have two more matches to play, Saturday against Luxembourg then Tuesday against Switzerland, both in Orléans. A single point would be enough for the Bleuets to confirm their qualification for Euro 2027 as group winners.