Zidane loses Mbappè, 'he wanted to play but we can't take risks'

France loses its pieces. All big shots. After Dembélé and Thuram, here is captain Mbappé's withdrawal. An attack cleared. "He won't be there - says Zidane, without pre-tactics -. He had a little pain, he wanted to be there but we don't want to take risks regardless of who the player is involved, it's our policy. The season is still long. It's never nice to lose players but it's part of the game."

The transalpine press had anticipated that the Real Madrid center forward had missed the finishing session in the morning due to muscle discomfort in his hamstrings, but also spoke of an open case. According to reconstructions, complete harmony has not yet been established between Mbappé and Zidane.

The new coach, who knows well the weight of the captain in the locker room, intends to build a solid relationship but some tactical choices have already created some friction. In particular, Mbappé would not have liked being used on the left flank in the previous window, when Dembélé had been used as a centre-forward. The player prefers to act as a central striker and Zidane, in view of Italy-France, had expressed his intention to comply with this request, bringing him back to the centre. A possibility collapsed by the sudden stop.

However, not only tactical issues accompany the controversies.

Around the Real Madrid star there was also discontent among some teammates, in particular after the self-promotion campaign linked to the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, later awarded to Harry Kane. A situation that would have fueled some distance within the group. The so-called 'China-gate' has also arrived to make the moment even more complicated: a joke about Mao Zedong, defined as a dictator, provoked a harsh reaction in Beijing. The subsequent apologies from the player and Real Madrid were not enough to avoid the commercial consequences, with some Chinese sponsors ending collaborations and state television suspending the broadcast of La Liga matches. "His mood? It's good", Zidane cuts short, highlighting how Mbappé expects to return against Turkey.

But the squad available to Zidane - also without Kalulu and Tchouaméni - remains phenomenal despite the absences. The Blues coach is lost in Italian memories, his past at Juventus, a club to which he leaves a glimmer of hope for his return, this time as a coach: "Why not, one day, if I continue to be a coach. You never know. What Lippi taught me is to always look ahead. I remember that with Lippi we did 30 minutes of just tactics but I always wanted to play with the ball. For me he was a master, I owe him everything." The amarcord glides over San Siro: "Here we played many good matches against Inter and Milan". But the focus remains on Mancini's Azzurri. The draw from the first leg is still indigestible.

"We know that Italy, when it wants to play a good match, does so, especially defensively. For an Italian, good defense comes first, then attacking, and Italy does it very well." Mancini has the task of dispelling the myth and reputation of catenacciari.