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Mbappé ruled out, Dembélé inherits captain's armband against Belgium

Injured in the knee during France's victory in Turkey (0-1), Kylian Mbappé has left the national team gathering. Zinédine Zidane has appointed three vice-captains, and Ousmane Dembélé, with 67 caps to his name, should wear the armband on Monday in Brussels.

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Mbappé ruled out, Dembélé inherits captain's armband against Belgium
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Kylian Mbappé left the France team gathering after suffering a knee injury during Friday’s victory in Turkey (0-1). As he left the pitch at Kocaeli stadium, the Real Madrid forward handed his armband to Ousmane Dembélé.

Zinédine Zidane has formalized a clear hierarchy by naming three vice-captains: Ousmane Dembélé, Adrien Rabiot and Jules Koundé. The coach applies a seniority criterion to separate the trio. With 67 caps, Dembélé leads Rabiot (66 caps) and Koundé (56), placing him at the top of the succession.

Barring any surprise in the lineup, the PSG forward should therefore wear the armband on Monday in Brussels, during France’s second Ligue des Nations match against Belgium. It would not be a first for him: at club level, Dembélé has already assumed this role at PSG in the absence of Marquinhos, notably during a match against Lens last May.

Mbappé’s injury, however, casts a shadow over the victory in Turkey. The usual France captain was struck on the knee at the very moment of his goal, before being forced to leave the pitch. No official timeframe for his absence has yet been communicated.

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