PARIS: The season in Europe is not finished yet, with a doubleheader of matchdays in qualifying for Euro 2024 set to take place over the next week.
Here are some of the main storylines with a year to go until the tournament in Germany: • Talk of Kylian Mbappe’s possible departure from Paris Saint-Germain has resurfaced in recent days and dominated headlines in France after the striker told his club he would not extend his contract beyond next year.
France coach Didier Deschamps will hope Mbappe can remain focused for another few days as last year’s World Cup runners-up go to Portugal to play Gibraltar Friday and then host Greece in Group B on June 19. “It has created a buzz and is on the front page of the papers, but we can’t control that,” said France’s Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate on Wednesday. “He has not changed with us.
He is just the same, as joyful as ever and teasing people. I have not seen a change in his behavior.” Mbappe was named as France’s new captain before they began Euro qualifying with wins over the Netherlands and Ireland.