Striker Kylian Mbappé is absent from the official press conference ahead of the French team’s first match at the World Cup. The tournament organizers were awaiting the participation of the squad’s main leader in this Monday’s press conference, before the clash against Senegal, together with commander Didier Deschamps, but midfielder N’Golo Kanté was scheduled to speak to journalists.
Even without the imposition of rules that forced the participation of the main athlete, there was a strong projection from the media about the captain’s speech, due to the fact that it marked the team’s opening round in the international tournament.
The French technical committee justified that the choice came directly from Deschamps, aiming to save the player from a land journey to the MetLife stadium, the stage defined for press questions, as the athlete would need to return shortly afterwards to the delegation’s training center.
FIFA refuses change of venue requested by French officials
The directors of the European country’s federation tried to transfer conversations with reporters to the New York Red Bulls’ sports facilities, the location chosen for the squad’s preparation for the competition, but football’s highest governing body rejected the change of venue.
With the aim of avoiding the wear and tear of the main goalscorer, Kanté, who occupies the position of second leader of the group, took on the responsibility of providing answers alongside Deschamps. The commission’s plans indicate that number 10 should speak publicly in the next match, against Iraq, valid for the group stage.
The debut of the current world finalists takes place this Tuesday, in a scheduled duel against the Senegal team, with the starting whistle scheduled for 4pm Brasília time.
