Captain Kylian Mbappe’s absence from the France national team camp just before their Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands has been confirmed.

The French squad had gathered for their second reunion of the season to prepare for two upcoming matches, an important Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands on October 14, and a friendly with Scotland on October 18. Les Bleus were looking to regain their winning form after suffering a 1-2 defeat to Germany in September.

However, on the eve of their crucial clash with the Netherlands, the French team faced a significant setback as their superstar, Kylian Mbappe, had to leave the camp due to a personal tragedy. According to France’s esteemed newspaper, L’Équipe, the French striker left the team’s Clairefontaine training camp on Wednesday, October 11 (French time) due to the grief of losing a family member.

Mbappe requested permission from coach Didier Deschamps to return to his hometown of Bondy, in the suburbs of Paris, for a few hours to offer his condolences to the bereaved family. He also assured his professionalism by pledging to rejoin the team at the concentration camp later the same evening.

Nevertheless, this heartbreaking news is bound to have a considerable impact on Mbappe’s psychological state, particularly so close to the French team’s departure to Amsterdam for the match against the Netherlands. It also raises questions about whether Les Bleus’ captain will be able to attend the pre-match press conference.

For the French national team, the match against the Netherlands on October 14 is of utmost importance. A victory would bring Les Bleus closer to securing a place in the Euro 2024 finals, given the fierce competition with rivals Greece and the Netherlands. Currently, Didier Deschamps and his team are leading Group B, with 5 wins and 6 points more than the two teams behind them, although they have played one more match than the Netherlands.

Reports from L’Équipe and Le Parisien revealed that shortly after arriving at Clairefontaine, Kylian Mbappe received distressing news from his family about the passing of a close relative. He briefly visited Bondy to offer condolences and support the bereaved family before reuniting with the team at Clairefontaine late in the evening on October 11.

As per the information from the French media, Mbappe will still travel with his teammates to Amsterdam on October 12 to prepare for the crucial match against the Netherlands, which is the 7th match in the Euro 2024 qualifying round, Group B. This match holds immense significance as a victory against the Netherlands, or a draw coupled with a Greece loss to the Republic of Ireland, could potentially secure France a spot in the Euro 2024 finals.