France FC today: Mbappé ruled out as Les Bleus chase Iceland win and the Zidane drumbeat grows louder

France enter tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Reykjavík with top spot in Group D in sight—and a notable absence up front. Kylian Mbappé, withdrawn from camp with an ankle knock sustained after starring against Azerbaijan, leaves Didier Deschamps to retool an attack that has leaned on his gravity for years. The task is straightforward on paper: manage the moment, collect the points, and keep qualification math simple. The subtext, however, is unmistakable: succession chatter around the national job is getting louder just as the run-in to 2026 tightens.

Mbappé out, solutions in: how France can still control the game

Deschamps’ blueprint without his talisman doesn’t require reinvention—just clean execution. Expect a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 that prizes control over chaos:

• Wide threat, central discipline: With no Mbappé to stretch down the channel, France can manufacture width through Thuram/Barcola on the flank and overlapping full-backs (Theo Hernández or Malo Gusto) to force Iceland’s back line to turn.

• Midfield platform: A pivot anchored by Tchouaméni (if fit) or Rabiot/Koné should keep second balls French. The mandate: circulate quickly, bait the first press, then pierce lines to the half-spaces where Kolo Muani/Nkunku can operate between defenders.

• Set pieces matter: In chilly Reykjavík winds, delivery travels. Konaté and Upamecano (or Loïc Badé) are live targets; France’s aerial edge can tilt a tight night.

The biggest adjustment is psychological. Mbappé’s mere presence bends defensive geometry; without it, Les Bleus must earn their separation with structure—clean rotations, quick switches, and a higher volume of low-probability shots to force rebounds and corners.

Who carries the chance creation load?

• Marcus Thuram: Excellent at wall passes and diagonal runs across the near center-back; look for cutbacks rather than early crosses.

• Christopher Nkunku: If given a free role, he can mimic some of Mbappé’s penalty-box instincts with late arrivals and disguised shooting lanes.

• Ousmane Dembélé / Michael Olise: The pure dribble threat that shifts blocks. Even 1–2 successful isolations per half can create the inside-lane for a trailing midfielder.

Fantasy and betting angle: bump France full-backs for assist potential; Thuram/Nkunku anytime scorer remains logical given expected territory.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s window opens

Called in on merit after a prolific club year, Jean-Philippe Mateta offers a different problem for center-backs: a back-to-goal post-up game and heavy near-post runs. If he starts or comes on early, watch France toggle to richer crossing patterns—near-post flashes and late far-post stands—plus second-phase shots for the arriving No. 8. For a side that sometimes over-elaborates, Mateta’s simplicity in the box is a feature, not a bug.

Defense first: why a clean sheet is the real key

Even with attacking absences, France remain elite because their defensive floor is high. The center-back pairing steps early to kill counters; the 6/8s take good angles; and the weak-side full-back tucks in to protect the box. Iceland will test with direct balls and late runners from midfield. If France win first contacts and sweep the crumbs, territory will compound and chances will come. A professional 0 at the back is half the job done.

The Zidane question moves from hypothetical to timetable

Off the pitch, a fresh spark: Zinédine Zidane has again signaled that the France job is his ideal next stop. With Deschamps publicly set to depart after the 2026 World Cup, the arc is clear. For the federation, continuity is the temptation—evolve a winning machine without ripping out its DNA. For the players, especially a core raised on finals, the prospect of Zidane’s man-management and big-game fluency is a cultural accelerant. The practical takeaway for tonight? None—Deschamps’ voice still carries total authority. But the post-2026 runway is taking shape, and results like Reykjavík—routine, ruthless, drama-free—are how a manager writes his final chapter on his own terms.

What to watch in Reykjavík (kickoff local evening)

• First 15 minutes: Does France pin Iceland immediately, or do long balls force messy transitions? Early field position will predict the night.

• Left-side combinations: Theo + winger vs. Iceland’s right. If France slice through there, the back post will open repeatedly.

• Sub timing at 55'–65': Deschamps has leaned pragmatic with in-game control. A Mateta/Nkunku toggle or fresh legs in wide areas could break a stalemate.

Big-picture stakes

France sit where elite programs should in October: results-driven, identity-secure, and adaptable. Navigating a qualifier without Mbappé isn’t a crisis; it’s a systems check for the depth chart and a reminder that Les Bleus can win in multiple gears. Handle business in Reykjavík, and the conversation stays blissfully boring—points, progression, and a clear horizon to 2026.