France’s head coach, Zinedine Zidane, has included captain Kylian Mbappé in his squad for the Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey next week. In a surprising move, he also selected 23-year-old Pablo Pagis from Paris FC.
Mbappé, who scored his 67th international goal to secure a 1-0 win over Turkey in October, had to leave that match due to a knee injury. This injury sidelined him for the subsequent three games. He returns amid controversy regarding his comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which have strained relations with Chinese sponsors. Despite apologies from him, his club Real Madrid, and the organisers of Spain’s top league, Chinese state television will not broadcast Spanish matches.
Pagis, who joins the squad after Maghnes Akliouche was ruled out with a calf injury, was highlighted by Zidane as a promising option. “He’s a player I want to see, someone different,” Zidane said.
Just two years ago, Pagis was playing for Lorient in Ligue 2. He helped the team gain promotion to Ligue 1 in 2025, scoring five goals and assisting seven. He then contributed significantly to Lorient’s survival last season with ten goals and five assists. Paris FC signed him for €16 million in July, and under new manager Liam Rosenior, he has netted three goals and provided an assist in the opening nine games.
“There’s an opportunity with Pablo,” Zidane added. “We’ll see how much time he gets on the pitch.”
France currently leads League 1 Group A with ten points after four matches under Zidane. A win against Italy would secure France a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.
In terms of injuries, Zidane will also be without Akliouche, Manu Koné, William Saliba, Jules Koundé, and Maxence Lacroix. Forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Esteban Lepaul have been sidelined since mid-October.
Turkey, meanwhile, will face Belgium and France with a new head coach, Sergin Yalçin, who took over after Vincenzo Montella’s dismissal following four defeats in the Nations League. Yalçin, a former Turkey international, signed a four-year contract with the Turkish football federation.
