Mbappé out against Italy but expected to face Turkey, Zidane confirms

Kylian Mbappé did not play in France’s defeat in Italy (3-1) on Thursday at San Siro due to a minor physical issue. Zinedine Zidane hopes to be able to count on his captain as early as Sunday for the home match against Turkey in Bordeaux.

“I hope he will be ready for Sunday,” the manager said at a press conference after the match. “In any case, that was the plan, for him to be able to rest today because he was a bit bothered and then have the possibility to play on Sunday. That’s what we want.” On Wednesday, Zidane had already justified the striker’s absence on a precautionary basis: “He felt a slight pain. Zero risk. The season is long.”

Mbappé watched the match from the bench alongside Marcus Thuram, powerless as the situation turned around. France had started well thanks to a quick goal from Michael Olise, before seeing Italy equalize against the run of play in the first half, then dominate the second half to win 3-1.

This defeat relegates France to second place in their group, behind the Nazionale. A victory against Turkey is now essential to secure qualification for the quarter-finals. Mbappé’s presence is all the more important as he had only been able to play one match during the first gathering in September, forced to withdraw with a left knee injury — which occurred precisely on the winning goal scored against this same Turkey in Ankara (0-1).

This time, the nature of the problem seems far less serious, and his absence in Italy was above all a precautionary measure. If Mbappé is indeed available on Sunday, he will face the opponent against whom he had been injured a few weeks earlier.