Mbappé Leads France into Friendlies Against Brazil and Colombia

Kylian Mbappé, recently returning from a knee injury, will captain the French national team in upcoming friendly matches against Brazil and Colombia in the United States. Coach Didier Deschamps announced the squad on Thursday, emphasizing Mbappé’s desire to regain match fitness ahead of the World Cup.

Mbappé’s Return to Action

Mbappé made his return to play for Real Madrid in the Champions League against Manchester City earlier this week, appearing off the bench . Deschamps confirmed that Mbappé expressed his eagerness to participate in the friendlies, dismissing any suggestion that his inclusion was motivated by marketing considerations . His condition will be closely monitored following Real Madrid’s upcoming match against Atlético Madrid to determine his playing time during the international break.

Squad Details and Key Players

The France squad features a mix of established stars and emerging talents. Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike and Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki are among the attacking options selected by Deschamps . Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has also been included, despite a recent change in his playing status at Paris Saint-Germain. The squad includes:

• Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (PSG), Mike Maignan (Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes)
• Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
• Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kanté (Fenerbahce), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Aurélien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
• Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG), Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool), Randal Kolo Muani (Tottenham), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)

Friendly Matches and World Cup Preparation

France will face Brazil on March 26 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Colombia on March 29 near Washington, DC . These matches serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup, with Deschamps set to announce his final squad on May 13. France is grouped with Senegal, Norway, and a play-off winner in Group I of the tournament.

Deschamps’ Rationale

Deschamps described the inclusion of Lucas Chevalier as a “human gesture,” acknowledging the goalkeeper’s recent situation at Paris Saint-Germain . He emphasized the challenging nature of the upcoming friendlies, noting Brazil’s status as a World Cup contender and Colombia’s strong contingent of players competing in top European leagues.