NB II Overview

Kylian Mbappe has expressed his delight at reuniting with Zinedine Zidane, describing the appointment of the new France national team coach as a cinematic moment. The pair first met when the former midfielder invited a young Mbappe to trial at Real Madrid over a decade ago, and they will now work together following the departure of Didier Deschamps.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has been forced into an early reshuffle of his Three Lions squad ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Five high-profile stars have withdrawn from the national team camp, leading to immediate opportunities for two rising midfield talents to prove their worth on the international stage.

Liam Delap has been told what he “needs” in order to become Harry Kane’s successor in the England national team, with Bobby Zamora admitting to GOAL that replacing an “extremely special” striker will be almost impossible. Following his big-money transfer from Chelsea to Nottingham Forest, 23-year-old frontman Delap is hoping to prove himself deserving of a chance to lead the Three Lions’ attacking unit.

Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer is expected to pull out of the England squad for the upcoming international break, dealing a significant blow to Thomas Tuchel’s plans. Despite the German coach recently demanding that the playmaker justify his selection following a controversial World Cup omission, the 24-year-old looks set to prioritise his long-term fitness.