France Turns to a Fresh Face as Mbappé Sits Out Azerbaijan Clash

Lineup shake-up as Mbappé misses out

With Kylian Mbappé sidelined by an ankle issue, France head coach Didier Deschamps plans to give opportunities to several youngsters and squad players in their final European Qualifiers match against Azerbaijan, as the national team closes the chapter on the 2025 campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

France had already clinched qualification thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine last Thursday.

By that victory, the Les Bleus topped Group D with 13 points, ahead of Iceland on goal difference, Ukraine third, and Azerbaijan bottom with a single point.

Mbappé left the French camp to continue treating an ankle inflammation, joining Real Madrid for rehab.

Manu Kone of Roma also left due to an apparent suspension, keeping Deschamps’ plans under wraps for final selections.

In this context, L'Équipe reported that Deschamps intends several changes to the starting XI after securing World Cup 2026 qualification. It was highlighted that Lucas Chevalier, Paris Saint-Germain’s goalkeeper, could make his first France appearance after stints on the bench across 11 internationals.

The report noted that the Azerbaijan game would be a prime opportunity for Chevalier, who faced early doubts over potentially replacing Donnarumma after his move to Manchester City in the closing days of the transfer window.

L'Équipe also published a predicted lineup for the match, with Chevalier in goal and a backline featuring Malo Gusto, Ibrahim Konaté, Lucas Hernández, and Theo Hernández, complemented by a midfield group including Warren Zaïre-Emery and Khephren Thuram, plus Florian Thauvin, Magnès Akliouche, Nicolas N’Kunku, and Hugo Ekitike in attacking roles—though the exact names could vary.

In this setup, Ibrahim Konaté would wear the armband as Ngolo Kanté and Mike Maignan would begin on the bench, with Mbappé omitted from the squad.

“Let’s Try the Impossible”

Mbappé, speaking to TF1 after the Ukraine win, said: “We’re proud, but qualification for the World Cup isn’t guaranteed—it's become more routine in recent years, yet it wasn’t always so.” He added that achieving 400 career goals isn’t what thrills people most; what excites is pushing toward even more milestones and living each match as a unique chapter in a player’s journey.

He continued: “I had to be at my best to help the team qualify; this season I had to prove how much the national team means to me.”

Regarding France’s World Cup 2026 mission, Mbappé argued that everyone understands football, but the true privilege lies in playing on the world stage and chasing the trophy alongside the 48 participating nations.

“We’re chasing a third star, and we must use the 2022 loss as motivation, focusing first on the group stage,” he concluded.

France qualified for the World Cup finals for the 17th time, and eighth consecutive, under Deschamps, who has led the team since 2012 and plans to step down after the tournament. Deschamps has overseen 174 matches, with 112 wins, 32 draws, and 30 losses, while the squad has scored 372 goals and conceded 164. His list of honours includes the 2018 World Cup, UEFA Nations League 2021, silver at Euro 2016, silver at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the 2025 Nations League bronze, earned under his watch.

Deschamps will depart following the 2026 campaign, having steered Les Bleus through a period of transition while preserving a potent winning tradition. The journey ahead remains about blending youth with experience as France eyes another deep run in a global competition.

Punchline 1: If Chevalier keeps a clean sheet, France might finally stop letting Donnarumma outshine them on social media—watch this space and the memes will write themselves.

Punchline 2: Mbappé might be absent, but the dressing room mood remains: the bench is now a launchpad, and the coffee is strong enough to fuel a title chase.