Italy v France preview: Mbappé misses training as Zidane’s injury-hit leaders head to San Siro

Italy v France preview: Kylian Mbappé sat out training on Wednesday and Aurélien Tchouaméni has gone home injured, leaving Zinedine Zidane’s group leaders short-handed for Thursday’s Nations League showdown with Roberto Mancini’s Italy at San Siro.

Mbappé a worry for France

The France captain missed Wednesday’s session and was described as receiving treatment, with the staff giving no further detail. It is another fitness scare for Mbappé, who had to leave the France camp with a knee problem after scoring in Zidane’s first game in September. He has been in strong form for Real Madrid, scoring in the 3-0 win at Racing earlier this month.

The absentee list is long. The French federation confirmed Tchouaméni has left the squad after injuring his right adductor again, the same problem that hit him at the World Cup, and no replacement will be called. Marcus Thuram has gone back to Inter with a hamstring injury, with uncapped Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi called up in his place. Pierre Kalulu is also out, replaced by uncapped right-back Sael Kumbedi, while William Saliba, Ousmane Dembélé, Manu Koné and Esteban Lepaul are missing too.

There is some good news for Zidane. Dayot Upamecano is back from suspension and Ibrahima Konaté returns. Eduardo Camavinga, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Adrien Rabiot are the main midfield options without Tchouaméni.

Italy v France team news: Mancini turns to youth

Italy have problems of their own. Roma defender Gianluca Mancini pulled out with a muscle injury and Juventus’s Federico Gatti has been called up. Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giacomo Raspadori and Moise Kean are all injured.

The head coach has named four new faces, including 20-year-old AC Milan forward Alphadjo Cissé, who has seven goals in 12 games this season, and 17-year-old Como talent Riccardo Cassano. Mancini said results shape opinion but his side must keep working and raising the bar, and that he likes blending young players with the experienced ones who are currently sidelined.

Top spot on the line

France lead the group with 10 points from four games. Italy are second, three points behind and one ahead of Belgium, after recovering from an opening 2-0 defeat to Belgium. The first meeting in Paris last month ended 1-1, with Michael Olise scoring for France before Alessandro Bastoni levelled midway through the second half. Read how that fixture shaped up in our France v Italy preview from October.

Olise has been a key figure for France since the summer, and our sister site DGBN covered his hat-trick in France’s win over Northern Ireland. After this one, Italy travel to Belgium on Sunday while France host Türkiye.

Fixture	Italy v France, Nations League League A, matchday 5
Kick-off	Thursday 12 November, 7.45pm UK
Venue	San Siro, Milan
Referee	István Kovács
Table	France 1st (10 pts), Italy 2nd (3 pts behind)
Reverse fixture	France 1-1 Italy (2 October)
Head-to-head	42 meetings: Italy 20 wins, France 12, 10 draws