Although the absence of both stars is striking, it is not really surprising, because Mbappé has been dealing with an injury to his left thigh for a few days, while Griezmann decided on Monday to end his international career with Les Bleus.
In statements to the press to explain his list, the coach of France, Didier Deschamps, said the Real Madrid striker needs to recover.
I obviously spoke with Mbappé and his situation is uncertain, said the coach regarding the player who came on as a substitute the day before in the 0-1 defeat of the merengue club against Lille in the Champions League.
As for Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Deschamps considered his retirement at 33 years of age to be logical and natural, due to the accumulation of physical and psychological fatigue.
France will therefore have to cope without its two key players, world champions in Russia-2018, on October 10 against Israel at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest and on the 14th against Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
Les Bleus compete in Group 2 of the Nations League, in which they started their journey with a 1-3 defeat against Italy, but then beat Belgium 2-0.
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