France captain Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of Thursday's UEFA Nations League encounter against Italy after experiencing discomfort in his hamstring, head coach Zinedine Zidane has confirmed.
France will travel to Milan to face Roberto Mancini's Italy as they look to maintain their position at the top of Group A1. They will then host Turkey in Bordeaux on Sunday in their final group fixture.
Speaking ahead of the Italian encounter, Zidane confirmed that the Real Madrid forward would not be involved after reporting some pain. The France manager explained that the decision was taken as a precaution to prevent the problem from becoming more serious.
Although Mbappe's absence represents a setback for Les Bleus, Zidane expressed hope that the injury would not keep him out for long. He suggested that the 27-year-old could recover in time for Sunday's meeting with Turkey.
The forward recently returned to the French national team after missing the previous three international fixtures because of injury. His latest fitness concern is therefore another disappointment as he looks to regain consistency at international level.
Mbappe has enjoyed an impressive campaign with Real Madrid, scoring 17 goals across all competitions this season. His attacking contributions have made him an important figure for both his club and country.
He previously scored the decisive goal in Zidane's first match as France manager, securing a victory against Turkey in September during the Nations League. However, the striker was forced to leave the pitch shortly after scoring because of discomfort in his left knee.
France have made a strong start to their Nations League campaign, collecting three victories and one draw from their opening four matches. They currently lead Group A1 and are well positioned to reach the quarter-finals.
A victory over Italy would officially secure France's qualification for the next stage of the competition, making Thursday's encounter particularly important for Zidane's side.
Despite losing their captain, France will hope to maintain their momentum and secure the result needed to advance, while also monitoring Mbappe's recovery ahead of Sunday's meeting with Turkey.
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