France manager Didier Deschamps says his decision to leave captain Kylian Mbappe out of the squad for this month’s Nations League double-header is a “one-off”.

The Real Madrid forward was not selected for upcoming matches against Israel and Italy.

Mbappe, 25, was left out of France’s squad in October for two Nations League matches as a precaution given he had just returned from injury and had been expected to return for selection this month.

“I’ve had discussions with him, it is a decision that I took for this block of matches only,” Deschamps said at a news conference on Thursday. “Kylian wanted to come.”

The forward, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer from Paris St-Germain, has struggled for form since moving to the Bernabeu.

Mbappe has scored eight goals in 15 appearances for the La Liga club but has only netted once in his past five games.

Real, who won both the Champions League and La Liga last season, were beaten 4-0 by rivals Barcelona last month and trail the Catalans by nine points in the league.

Mbappe, a World Cup winner in 2018, has scored 48 goals in 86 appearances for France.

CHELSEA hammered Noah to make it four straight wins in Europa Conference League football.

The West Londoners have picked up maximum points after SIX scorers got in on the action.

5

Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku scored.

Here is how Dan King rated Chelsea‘s performers from Stamford Bridge.

FILIP JORGENSEN – 7

Kept out shot before floodgates opened at other end. Made other sharp saves, including late brave one. Looks a solid No 2.

AXEL DISASI – 7

Out of position for early Noah chance but in right place to head in third. Good link-up with George on the right.

TOSIN ADARABIOYO – 7

Recovered from shaky start defensively to open scoring and his own Chelsea account. Steadier after the break.

5

BENOIT BADIASHILE – 6

Like Tosin, not entirely convincing as Noah created a few first-half openings, although made one good block. Also better in second half.

RENATO VEIGA – 5

Couple of early mistakes, one of which could have been costly, set tone. Not as impressive as in previous ECL games.

ENZO FERNANDEZ – 8

On his own in midfield in the first half yet was able to provide three assists, two from corners, and look very comfortable.

5

TYRIQUE GEORGE – 8 

Teenage winger made most of first senior start, beating opponents at will and sending in dangerous crosses. Worked back, too.

CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU – 7

Looked less hungry to tuck in to goal buffet. But went up front for 2nd half and scored twice after missing two good chances.

JOAO FELIX – 8

At it from the start, missed an early chance but then scored twice in a swaggering first half. Disappointed not to complete hat-trick.

5

MYKHAILO MUDRYK – 7

Much quieter than George until he cut inside and smashed home with confidence that had seemed lacking. Decent workrate.

MARC GUIU – 7

The 18-year-old striker worked hard as ever and got his reward, bagging his first Chelsea goal and stealing ball ahead of Felix’s first.

SUBS

KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL (for Guiu, HT) – 6

Some neat touches and won penalty for eighth Blues goal.

CESARE CASADEI (for Fernandez, HT) – 6

Found life as easy as Enzo, yet unable to make the same creative impact.

CARNEY CHUKWUEMEKA (for George, 68) – 5

Took a while to get going and missed decent chance to make it nine.

SAMUEL RAK-SAKYI (for Nkunku, 80) – 6

Teenager mostly composed on first-team debut but shot over bar with goal gaping.

5

Advertisement

Goalkeeper David Harrington has been added to Craig Bellamy’s squad for Wales’ upcoming Nations League matches against Turkey and Iceland.

The Fleetwood Town youngster, 24, was born in Cork, Republic of Ireland but qualifies to represent Wales through his Bangor-born father, Phil Harrington, who was also a goalkeeper.

He has been a part of the Ireland Under-21s set-up and earned his first call-up to their senior side for friendly matches against Hungary and Portugal in June, but was an unused substitute in both games.

He will now link up with the Wales squad for Bellamy’s third camp as international boss.

Harrington had been linked with a switch to Premier League Everton, but moved to Fleetwood from Cork City in January 2023.

He is currently working under former Wales international Owain Fon Williams, who is goalkeeper coach with the League Two club.

Harrington has featured 14 times in all competitions for Charlie Adam’s side so far this season.

He joins Danny Ward, Karl Darlow and Tom King in the squad for Wales’ final two Nations League fixtures of the year.

Bellamy’s side take on Turkey in Kayseri on 16 November (17:00 GMT).

They then host Iceland at Cardiff City Stadium three days later (19:45 GMT).

LAS VEGAS – Bernardo Sopaj has designs on one day being a UFC champion, so Saturday’s matchup with Ricky Turcios at UFC Fight Night 247 has a high degree of importance.

Sopaj (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a 24-year-old bantamweight out of Albania, stumbled in his octagon debut in March when he was on the receiving end of an all-time highlight reel flying knee knockout against Vinicius Oliveira after starting the fight strong.

It was an ugly way to be introduced to the UFC, but an important lesson and setback for Sopaj. It didn’t deter his goal of being champion, but starting 0-2 in the octagon would make his title trajectory that much longer, although it’s been done before.

“(A victory is) just one step closer to what I want, one step closer to the belt because I’m here to take the belt and nothing else,” Sopaj told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 247 media day. “I didn’t come here to celebrate a victory. I didn’t come here to say that I’m a UFC fighter. If I would come here for this it would be the wrong decision. When I started with MMA I said, ‘OK, if I want to do this, I have to be the best.’

“To be in the UFC, for me, is just the beginning. My goal is to be the best, my goal is to get the belt and be the greatest fighter.”

Sopaj will look to secure his first octagon triumph when he takes on Turcios (12-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) at the UFC Apex (ESPN+). His opponent brings an unorthodox style to the cage, but it’s not an approach that breeds any concern from Sopaj.

“He’s a very good all-around fighter,” Sopaj said. “He has a little bit of a weird style. He’s like a street fighter. But I believe I’m better than him everywhere. I’m a more complete fighter than him, stronger than him and more technical.”

Originally, the matchup between Sopaj and Turcios was merely a piece of the six-fight main card on Saturday. Then former champion Cody Garbrandt withdrew from the co-main event against Miles Johns, and the lineup was shifted with Sopaj vs. Turcios now in the co-headliner.

That’s a bigger spotlight for Sopaj, but he said it’s only enhancing his motivation to deliver a spectacular performance.

“No pressure,” Sopaj said. “I feel very good, very confident. This gives me extra excitement. I feel very good. I learned about this (on Tuesday) and I feel very good about it. I’m happy. … I feel very good. I’m very grateful.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 247.