UEFA Nations League

Matchday 2

Stade de France, Paris

France - Croatia

- Kick-off at 21:00 CET

PSG superstar Mbappé got he job done for France in the 1-0 win opening-day win over Sweden in Solna on Saturday, firing home from a seemingly impossible angle after using his trademark pace and trickery to break into the box, but there will be none of that against Croatia on Tuesday as the French prodigy has tested positive for COVID-19.

A blow for France, certainly, even though the fact that Mbappé - who is still asymptomatic - copped a knock on his recently injured ankle might have prompted Deschamps to rest him in any case.

"He took a bad knock on his sensitive ankle. He kept playing, even though I did not take any risks," said Deschamps after the Sweden match but before Mbappé's positive COVID-19 test. "We will see how he feels tomorrow [Sunday]. The other players too. I don't want to take any risks. I'll talk with him to see whether he can play on Tuesday against Croatia."

Deschamps backs Griezmann

Mbappé's absence will put further pressure on playmaker Antoine Griezmann, who struggled to put his stamp on the Sweden match - and blazed over from the penalty spot - but France boss Didier Deschamps has plenty of options up front as he looks to repeat the win over Croatia that handed Les Bleus the World Cup in Russia back in 2018.

In-form Anthony Martial of Manchester United, who came on for Mbappé in the Sweden win, is tipped for a place up front in Deschamps' 3-4-1-2, with AS Monaco sensation Wissam Ben Yedder set to replace Olivier Giroud in the other striking role.

Griezmann, however, is tipped to keep his spot in the re-worked attacking line.

"I have no doubts about him,” said Deschamps, evidently right behind his playmaker. "He knows he didn't play his best game, but he's able to play again on Tuesday. I remember in November his first game was far from the best, but he had a very good second game. I will make the decision that I think is the best for the team and for him."

Kanté-Rabiot in the middle once more

Griezmann should have the freedom in which to express his creative talents once more, given that the ultra-impressive N'Golo Kanté is set to reprise his hard-tackling, ball-winning performance in the centre of the park, likely alongside the recently recalled Adrien Rabiot - who stepped in to deputise for the COVID-barred Paul Pogba and Houssem Aouar - once more.

In defence, Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy is tipped to replace Lucas Digne in the left wing-back role while Presnel Kimpembe - whose club PSG open their Ligue 1 Uber Eats campaign in Lens on Thursday - is likely to make way for Barcelona stopper Clément Lenglet on the left of Raphaël Varane and Dayot Upamecano in the three-man defence.

Clasico stars on break

Meanwhile Croatia - who fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat to Portugal on Matchday 1 on Saturday - will once again be without superstars Luka Modric and Ivan Raitic, who have been excused from national-team duty to take a break after their Champions League Final 8 exertions with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively.

Probable teams

France: Lloris; Upamecano, Varane, Lenglet; Dubois, Kante, Rabiot, Mendy; Griezmann; Martial, Ben Yedder

Croatia: Livakovic; Jedvaj, Lovren, Vida, Barisic; Kovacic, Brozovic; Rebic, Vlasic, Perisic; Kramaric