France’s Omission of Mbappé Sparks Criticism from Upamecano

Dayot Upamecano has expressed his support for Kylian Mbappé after the French forward's omission from the national squad for upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. Upamecano criticized the lack of gratitude towards Mbappé, emphasizing his importance to France. Despite his recent form struggles, the defender hopes Mbappé will return to the squad soon, including as captain.

France captain and one of the best strikers in the world, Kylian Mbappé, has received support from his teammate Dayot Upamecano, who believes the management has been too harsh in leaving the forward out of the squad. Mbappé, currently playing for Real Madrid after his move from Paris Saint-Germain, has been omitted by coach Didier Deschamps for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy. Deschamps referred to the decision as a "one-off," though he has not provided further details.

Upamecano, a key figure in France's defense, expressed that Mbappé deserves more recognition for his contributions to the national team. The 25-year-old forward has been instrumental in France's success, scoring 48 goals in 86 appearances.

Despite a challenging start to his season with Real Madrid, where he has only netted once in his last seven matches, including a quiet performance in a 4-0 loss to Barcelona, Upamecano believes Mbappé remains crucial to France's future success. He further added:

“I don’t think it’s a cause for concern. We mustn’t forget what Kylian has done for the French team. We lack a bit of gratitude towards him and I hope to see him again very soon.”

Upamecano further emphasized the mental aspect of the game, acknowledging the importance of supporting players like Mbappé, who has been a pivotal leader for France. He hopes the star will return to the squad soon, with the possibility of regaining the captaincy.