Kylian Mbappe Fit To Start For France As Deschamps Maps World Cup Plans

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Didier Deschamps confirms Kylian Mbappe is ready to start for France against Brazil in Thursday’s pre-World Cup friendly in Orlando, though playing time may still be managed carefully after recent injury concerns.

The Real Madrid forward recently returns from a knee problem that forces Mbappe to miss five matches. Mbappe appears as a substitute against Manchester City in the Champions League and Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, building minutes before linking up with France.

Deschamps explains that Mbappe is available but will not be pushed beyond sensible limits as France prepare for the World Cup and balance club commitments for several key players on both sides of this friendly.

"He can start, but not play the whole match, Deschamps said of the France captain. He can come on, like the other 24 players. He's part of that thinking. Each player has a unique situation. We have six substitutions, which is good too. There are a few players missing on both sides. The objective is both to win and to avoid taking risks with the players. They will have important matches in this final stretch with their clubs."

Mbappe still enters the France camp in strong form for Real Madrid across all competitions. Since the end of last year’s Club World Cup, Mbappe scores 38 goals in 35 games, underlining why Deschamps continues to assess starting options around the forward before the World Cup.

France’s meeting with Brazil in Orlando forms part of final testing before the World Cup, so Deschamps keeps one eye on tactical options. The coach states that the main aim combines a positive result with player safety, as key individuals still face important club fixtures.

Attention around Mbappe in Orlando also includes questions about Real Madrid’s handling of the knee injury. Reports in Spain claim medical staff in December allegedly scan the wrong leg with an MRI, which leads to an incorrect early assessment of the problem.

Those stories say an examination of the right knee initially shows nothing significant, so Mbappe plays three further matches before pain persists. At that point, the mistake is reportedly found, and Mbappe then sits out again, but the 27-year-old rejects that version of events.

"The information that they examined the wrong knee is not true, he said of the rumours. I may be indirectly responsible. When you don't communicate, everyone takes advantage of the situation; that's how it is. We've always had fairly clear communication with Real Madrid. We're at an important point in the season. I wanted the team to win matches [during his absence], it's great. When I was injured at the beginning of January, I wasn't there; everyone thought I was the club's only solution, and that wasn't the case."

Kylian Mbappe France Brazil friendly and Deschamps future talk

The build-up to France against Brazil also features speculation about the future of the national team bench. Reports suggest Zinedine Zidane verbally agrees to become France head coach once Deschamps steps aside after the World Cup campaign.

France Football Federation president Philippe Diallo adds fuel in an interview by hinting that a decision already exists on Deschamps’ successor. When asked directly whether Diallo knows who will follow Deschamps, the reply is brief but pointed: "Yes, I know his name."

Deschamps is asked whether that comment refers to Zidane and whether the situation affects preparation for Brazil. The current coach chooses not to enter the debate, stressing that national team work before the World Cup remains the only subject that matters within the squad.

"I usually don't comment, he added. I'm not going to respond through you. He's with us. That's it. I'm focusing on what's important to me. You're free to interpret, to make stories out of it. I'm not going to waste my energy. I have only one objective, you know that. What happens after is none of my business."

As France face Brazil in Orlando, Mbappe’s managed return, the search for Deschamps’ ideal line-up, and speculation over the long-term coaching situation all surround the squad, but the group’s focus centres on performance and avoiding fresh injury problems before major club and World Cup fixtures.