# Kylian Mbappe Sidelined from France Squad Ahead of Italy Nations League Clash France captain misses training session as Zinedine Zidane calls up replacement Senny Mayulu. - **Source:** [Al Jazeera English – All News](https://www.aljazeera.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/51944008-377c-484c-9d8e-75b106383003 ## Training Session Absence France captain Kylian Mbappe missed the team training session on Wednesday, raising concerns before the Nations League match against Italy. The coaching staff confirmed the 27-year-old forward remains under medical treatment. No specific details regarding his physical condition were provided, leaving his availability for the upcoming Milan fixture uncertain. ## Recent Performance Metrics Mbappe enters this international break following a productive weekend in La Liga. He scored in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Valencia, marking his 13th goal of the season. He currently ranks as the second-highest scorer in the Spanish top flight, trailing Barcelona's Raphinha by only two goals in the standings. ## Squad Adjustment Strategy In response to Mbappe’s physical status, France manager Zinedine Zidane has officially called up PSG forward Senny Mayulu to the national squad. This marks the first international call-up for the young player. The move suggests the coaching staff is preparing for potential offensive absences during the critical final pool-stage matches. ## Previous Injury Context This absence follows a period of intermittent availability for the French captain. Mbappe previously missed three consecutive matches for France due to injury. He briefly returned in September to score against Turkiye, but was forced to leave the pitch shortly after that goal due to persistent pain in his left knee. ## Nations League Standings France currently leads Group A1 of the Nations League with a strong record of three wins and one draw. The team is well-positioned to qualify for the quarterfinals. These final two fixtures against Italy and Turkiye are pivotal for maintaining their top standing before the tournament progresses to the knockout stages. ## Tactical Implications The loss of Mbappe impacts France’s offensive structure significantly, as he remains a primary scoring threat. With the Italy match scheduled for Thursday in Milan and the Turkiye game in Bordeaux on Sunday, Zidane must balance player health with the need to secure points to finalize their quarterfinal qualification status. ## Coaching Tenure Dynamics Zinedine Zidane’s tenure as France coach has been marked by high-stakes matches, including the September victory over Turkiye. Managing Mbappe’s fitness has become a recurring challenge for the coaching staff. The decision to integrate new talent like Mayulu indicates a shift toward depth management during this intense international window. ## Upcoming Match Outlook As France prepares for the Italy clash, the team must navigate the absence of their captain while maintaining their group lead. The medical staff continues to monitor Mbappe’s condition following his recent La Liga performance. Whether he recovers in time for the Bordeaux match against Turkiye remains a critical question. ## Sources covering this story - [Al Jazeera English – All News — Kylian Mbappe Misses France Training Ahead of Italy Nations League Match](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/11/kylian-mbappe-france-training-italy-uefa-nations-league?traffic_source=rss) - [ESPN FC — Kylian Mbappé Ruled Out for France Clash Against Italy](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/50452835/kylian-mbappe-hamstring-miss-france-clash-italy) - [Arab News — Mbappé Out for Italy Clash as Zidane Calls Up Mayulu](https://www.arabnews.com/football/mbappé-set-to-miss-france-clash-with-italy-and-zidane-gives-first-call-to-psg-forward-mayulu-3011296) - [France Info – Titres — Zidane Faces Attacking Crisis as Mbappé Misses Italy Clash](https://www.franceinfo.fr/sports/foot/equipe-de-france/face-a-l-avalanche-de-forfaits-zinedine-zidane-et-les-bleus-obliges-d-innover-en-attaque-pour-defier-l-italie-en-ligue-des-nations_8278229.html#xtor=RSS-3-[lestitres]) - [The Hindu – Sport — Mbappe Out for Italy Clash as Zidane Calls Up Mayulu](https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/mbappe-set-to-miss-france-clash-with-italy-and-zidane-gives-first-call-to-psg-forward-mayulu/article71691221.ece) - [RFI English — Kylian Mbappe Sidelined for France's Nations League Clash Against Italy](https://www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20261111-mbappe-ruled-out-of-france-s-nations-league-game-against-italy) - [La Gazzetta dello Sport – Ultime — Italy Faces France in Nations League Clash](https://video.gazzetta.it/calcio/nazionale/video-italia-francia-probabili-formazioni/e2404139-fe76-474c-af30-591075224xlk) - [France 24 – International — Kylian Mbappé Sidelined for France's Nations League Match Against Italy](https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/sports/20261112-kylian-mbapp%C3%A9-miss-thursday-nations-league-clash-against-italy) - [Olé — France Faces Italy in Nations League Without Kylian Mbappé](https://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-internacional/partidazo-nations-league-mbappe-francia-visita-italia_0_OZpcSZBHZ1.html) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._