Kylian Mbappe left out of France's Nations League squad by coach Deschamps

France captain Kylian Mbappe was shockingly omitted from Didier Deschamps' squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Israel, despite expressing eagerness to join, marking his fourth consecutive absence from the national team.

In Short

• Mbappe was unexpectedly excluded from France's Nations League squad
• Deschamps clarified Mbappe's absence wasn’t related to off-field issues
• Mbappe's fluctuating form at Real Madrid raised speculation over exclusion

France captain and star forward Kylian Mbappe was shockingly snubbed from the national team squad by coach Didier Deschamps amidst his on-and-off form with club Real Madrid. Deschamps unveiled the 23-man squad for France’s upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Israel, but Mbappe's name was noticeably absent, sparking surprise and speculation.

Mbappe had reportedly shown a strong desire to join the French squad for the Nations League, but Deschamps ultimately chose to leave him out. This exclusion marks the fourth consecutive match that Mbappe will miss with the national team, following his absence from France's games against Israel and Belgium last month. Deschamps, at the press-conference, also hinted that Mbappe's exclusion from the squad is not due to the recent rape allegations about the forward.

"I thought about it and made this decision about this gathering. I think it's better like this. I'm not going to argue. What I can tell you, two things: Kylian wanted to come, and it is not the extra-sporting problems that come into play from the moment the presumption of innocence exists," Deschamps said in a press-conference.

Mbappe's consistency issues at Real Madrid

Mbappe has experienced a mixed start to his tenure at Real Madrid. After initially struggling with a goal drought, he found some form in La Liga, scoring 6 goals and have one assist in his 10 matches. However, in a high-profile and his first El Clasico against FC Barcelona, two of his goals were disallowed, which led to further frustration for the forward. This performance, combined with a goalless outing in Real Madrid’s 3-1 loss to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League, has raised doubts about his consistency.

The reasons behind Deschamps' decision remain unclear. Some have speculated that the exclusion could be due to Mbappé's fluctuating form at the club level, while others believe it could be a tactical decision by the French coach to rotate his squad ahead of key fixtures. Regardless of the rationale, Mbappe’s absence from the squad has certainly raised questions, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering whether this will affect his future with Les Bleus.