The captain of the France national team and star forward for Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe, has drawn criticism from supporters for choosing to skip France’s Nations League matches against Belgium and Israel even though he was well enough to play for his club. His choice has drawn criticism, especially from Irresistibles Francais, a group of French supporters who doubt his dedication to the national team.
Following his recent recovery from a muscular ailment, Mbappe played again for Real Madrid in their La Liga victory over Villarreal and their Champions League match against Lille.
The head coach of France, Didier Deschamps, decided not to include him in the team for the Nations League matches despite his availability, citing the player’s lack of preparation. Fans, however, are not happy with Mbappe’s decision, believing he put his club’s needs ahead of his country’s.
Jibe from France Fans for “Real Captain”
The question of whether Mbappe is the best candidate to lead the national team has come up again in light of his absence. The Irresistibles Francais’ spokesperson, Fabien Bonnel, voiced his displeasure, specifically regretting that Antoine Griezmann was not selected as captain.
In his column for L’Equipe, Bonnel remarked:
“What stands out for us this week is that the real captain has left, the one who was knighted by the supporters, Antoine Griezmann. We wondered if the choice of captain had been the right one, and with this episode, I don’t know.”
Bonnel further added that the situation has left a negative impression on fans, casting doubt on Mbappe’s leadership:
“He must assume his captaincy… It is a week to forget and it will be hard, because it will leave its mark.”
