Even when he is not there for France, the focus remains on Kylian Mbappé. On the eve of a high-risk Nations League match against Israel, 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.

Even when he is not there for France, the focus remains on Kylian Mbappé — despite Didier Deschamps' pleas to stop asking about his star.

Even when he is not there for France, the focus remains on Kylian Mbappé. 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 news conference. Quickly back to his serious self, Deschamps then avoided a debate. "Listen,

Didier Deschamps has confirmed that, in Kylian Mbappé’s (25) absence, N’Golo Kanté (33) will captain France against Israel in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday. For the second consecutive