Zinedine Zidane keeps France squad at 22 after Mbappe injury

France will continue the international break without adding to its squad after Kylian Mbappe was ruled out with a knee injury. New head coach Zinedine Zidane has decided to retain a group of 22 players for the remainder of the Nations League schedule.

Mbappe left the team’s hotel in Turkey on Saturday and will return to Madrid for treatment. The Real Madrid forward sustained a tendon lesion in his knee while scoring France’s only goal in the opening matchday on Friday. His finish in the 54th minute secured a 1-0 victory over Turkey before he was replaced by Paris Saint-Germain attacker Désiré Doué.

France’s next Group A fixture is against Belgium in Brussels on Monday at the King Baudouin Stadium. The team will then face Italy and meet Belgium again on October 2 and October 5, with both later matches scheduled at the Stade de France.

Doué is the leading candidate to start against Belgium after taking Mbappe’s place in Turkey. Zidane will therefore rely on the existing attacking options rather than call up an additional player, leaving France to build on its winning start with its captain unavailable.