Deschamps: It Feels Strange Without Griezmann in the National Team; Mbappe Not Selected to Avoid Risks

On October 3rd, the French national team announced its latest squad list, and head coach Didier Deschamps gave an interview to explain the selections.

Speaking about Nkunku’s return, Deschamps said: “He hasn’t had many opportunities at Chelsea, but every time he’s on the pitch, he shows great vitality. Now he’s not injured, he just hasn’t trained with us for a while, which affected his development due to previous injuries.”

Regarding Griezmann’s announcement to retire from international football, Deschamps expressed regret: “He had a clear position and didn’t need any persuasion from me to stay. He made his decision after careful consideration, without any hesitation. If he hadn’t made this decision, he would still be here today.”

Concerning Mbappe’s absence, Deschamps explained: “I communicated with Mbappe, and given his uncertain condition after Wednesday’s game and another match on Saturday, there was some uncertainty. His injury is not serious, but he needs proper treatment to fully recover. I won’t take risks, so he wasn’t selected this time.”

With Griezmann’s retirement and Mbappe’s non-selection, who will captain the French team? Deschamps responded: “Regarding the captaincy, I’ll first communicate with the players who might take on this role.”

Regarding Kanté’s absence, Deschamps pointed out: “Kanté is absent because of a physical issue that arose two days ago; he won’t play tonight. Finding players to replace Griezmann and Mbappe in this training camp isn’t easy. I have a young and talented team that needs to prove themselves. With Griezmann’s retirement and Mbappe’s absence, more opportunities will arise. Of course, leadership can come in different forms.”

Regarding Rabiot’s omission, Deschamps explained: “Since Rabiot returned to training, I’ve communicated with him several times. Although he played for 30 minutes, he needs more time to recover. His last start was in July when he played with us. He needs more time.”

Deschamps also paid tribute to Griezmann: “It feels unusual not seeing him in the team… I can only thank him for everything he has contributed to the French team. He hasn’t ended his career. He’s a role model for young players. His career hasn’t been smooth sailing, nor has his experience with the national team. He always showed great generosity. He naturally exerted his leadership on the field in his own way. This marks the end of an era.”