Zidane confirms Mbappé as striker for next France squad

Kylian Mbappé will return to his preferred position as striker during the next France squad gathering. Zinédine Zidane confirmed this after announcing his squad, in which Ousmane Dembélé and Estéban Lepaul, both injured, are replaced by Marcus Thuram and Pablo Pagis, the latter receiving his first senior international call-up.

During the first squad gathering under Zidane’s tenure, the manager had deployed Dembélé as striker and confined Mbappé to the left wing, displaying a clear tactical preference. This choice lasted only one match: the Bondy-born player suffered an injury in Turkey, reshuffling the cards before the debate could even be settled.

When asked about the positioning of the France captain, Zidane did not dodge the question. « Kylian can play in several positions. Kylian will also perhaps be able to play in his preferred position today, during this squad gathering and these matches. So that means as a striker. There won’t be any issue, » the manager declared.

The situation is therefore temporarily simplified. In the 4-3-3 set up by Didier Deschamps’ successor, four forwards — Mbappé, Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise — are theoretically competing for three places. With Dembélé’s absence, they are now only three candidates for as many positions, which makes Zidane’s choices mechanically less complicated.

The real competition, and the decisions it entails, should emerge again during the March squad gathering, if all players are available. Until then, Mbappé will have the opportunity to express himself in the centre, where he feels most comfortable, starting with the trip to Italy.