Kylian Mbappe France Euro 2024Getty

Kylian Mbappe hit by 'real captain' jibe from France fans after Real Madrid superstar skips Nations League fixtures against Israel and Belgium

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  • Kylian Mbappe left out of France squad
  • Deschamps thinks captain is not prepared
  • France fans take shot at Mbappe for skipping duty
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    France captain Mbappe has come under fire for missing the upcoming Nations League clashes against Israel and Belgium despite being available to play for Real Madrid. The forward sustained a muscle injury last month but returned to action last Wednesday when Los Blancos lost to Lille in the Champions League and featured in the weekend's win over Villarreal. Mbappe was left out of the squad that France's coach, Didier Deschamps, announced because he felt the 25-year-old was not prepared.

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  • Kylian Mbappe France 2024Getty

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    However, fans of the French national team are disappointed in Mbappe for deciding to prioritize Real Madrid over his country despite being one of the most senior players in the squad and the captain of the team. Fabien Bonnel, the spokesperson for the Irresistibles Francais, the main France supporters' group has expressed his disappointment to L'Equipe, and taken shots at the 25-year-old for not being the 'real captain' of the side.

  • WHAT BONNEL SAID

    In his column with L'Equipe, Bonnel wrote: "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. There is a mistake somewhere, while we have just lost a model of exemplarity.

    "Either Real [Madrid] asks him to keep quiet, or France, but we know that when he wants to talk, he talks. He must assume his captaincy. I wouldn't go so far as to say that we feel like we are being taken for fools, and I don't know by whom. But it is a week to forget and it will be hard, because it will leave its mark."

  • WHAT NEXT FOR FRANCE?

    Deschamps' men will now have to show their quality in the absence of both Griezmann and Mbappe as they take on Israel and Belgium in the Nations League group stage.