On the eve of a high-risk Nations League match against Israel in Paris, France coach Didier Deschamps was asked Wednesday if he had spoken with Mbappé about his decision to leave the Real Madrid forward out of his squad. Deschamps first joked that he had expected the question to be asked earlier during the press conference.

Didier Deschamps has called up 23 players for the current international break, which will see France take on Israel and Italy in the UEFA Nations League. However, the focus is less on the 23 players