Mbappé returns to France duty as Zidane drafts Pagis into Nations League squad

France head coach Zinedine Zidane welcomed back skipper Kylian Mbappé into his squad for next week's Nations League games against Italy and Turkey and sprang a surprise with the selection of the 23-year-old Paris FC forward Pablo Pagis. Issued on: 07/11/2026 - 18:27 3 min Reading time Mbappé scored his 67th international goal to propel France to a 1-0 victory over Turkey in Izmit in October and successfully launch Zidane's reign as head coach. But minutes after the strike, the 27-year-old was forced to leave the fray nursing a knee injury that kept him out of France's next three games. He returns to the national team overshadowed by a row with Chinese sponsors following his comments on the internet about the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Despite apologies from Mbappé, his club Real Madrid and the organisers of Spain's top-flight division, Chinese state TV has refused to televise Spanish matches. Pagis carries no such baggage. He made the 23-man list after the Paris Saint-Germain forward Maghnes Akliouche was ruled out with a calf injury. "He [Pagis] has been selected because we had a little problem with Akliouche, who is injured and therefore not in the squad," said Zidane. "We had to choose another player and Pablo was in the extended squad. He's a player I want to see, someone different." From Ligue 2 to national team Two years ago, Pagis was turning out for Lorient in Ligue 2 – France's second division. He scored five goals and set up seven others as Lorient gained promotion to Ligue 1 in 2025. He confirmed that form in Ligue 1 the following season, making a significant contribution to Lorient's survival with 10 goals and five assists. In July 2026, Paris FC paid €16 million for his services and under new boss Liam Rosenior, he has scored three goals and created another to help his club to fourth in Ligue 1 after nine games. France boss Zidane generates 'electric atmosphere' with Nations League wins "The idea is not to pick only experienced players, nor only new ones," added Zidane. "With Pablo, the opportunity was there, although I don't know how it will work out. "There are two matches. We'll see how much time he gets on the pitch." France top League 1 Group A with 10 points after the first four games of Zidane's tenure. Old hand Olise rewards Zidane's fresh blood adventure in Belgium A victory in Italy would guarantee France a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals next March while a draw would leave them needing to beat Turkey to secure a berth. France injury list As well as Makliouche and Manu Koné in midfield, Zidane will be without defenders William Saliba, Jules Koundé and Maxence Lacroix. Forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Esteban Lepaul have been ruled out since the middle of October. "Zidane wants to show that everyone has a chance and that he likes technically gifted players," said Florent Gautreau on the After Foot show of French broadcaster RMC. "Zidane is doing his job, looking everywhere, and that's very satisfying. He's opening a lot of doors, but those doors can also close when the demands of top-level football catch up with you." New man for Turkey Turkey will go into their games against Belgium and France with a new head coach. Sergin Yalçin, 54, took over from Vincenzo Montella who was sacked on 9 October following four defeats in the 2027 Nations League to lie bottom of Group 1. Zidane says 'no regrets' over World Cup headbutt as France prepare to meet Italy The poor sequence followed a disastrous campaign at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada where Turkey were eliminated after the group stages. Yalçin, who played 37 times for Turkey between 1993 and 2003, signed a four-year deal with the Turkish football federation.