France forward Kylian Mbappé has suffered a right calf injury and has withdrawn from the squad for the end of the September gathering, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Thursday.
Kylian Mbappé felt a pain in a calf during France's 1-1 2022 World Cup qualifying draw with Bosnia in Strasbourg on Wednesday night. The Parisian player underwent examinations on Thursday and was made available to his club before Les Bleus' departure for Kiev, where they face Ukraine on Saturday (20:45) before playing host to Finland Tuesday (20:45) in Lyon.
"He will not be replaced for the trip to Ukraine," said the FFF.
The 22-year-old from the northern Parisian suburb of Bondy has already scored three goals and provided two assists in four appearances in Ligue 1 Uber Eats this season. With this withdrawal for the next two games, Mbappé will have missed ten international matches in two years due to injury, illness or Covid-19, out of the 26 played by the French world champions.
A blow for Deschamps' Bleus
For coach Didier Deschamps, this is an additional blow in the midst of a busy international window plagued with injuriesd and it will be the first time in seven games that he won't have been able to field the attacking trident of Antoine Griezmann - Karim Benzema - Kylian Mbappé.
Since the beginning of the gathering on Monday, Dayot Upamecano, N'Golo Kanté, Corentin Tolisso, and now Mbappé have been released. Earlier on Thursday, defender Nordi Mukiele was recalled to compensate for the suspension of Jules Koundé, sent off against Bosnia on Wednesday. He joined the squad alongside Mattéo Guendouzi (OM) and Adrien Rabiot, also called in as reinforcements.
