What to look out for in Euro 2024 qualifying

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. France can all but wrap up qualification by claiming back-to-back victories over Portugal and Greece.

• England enjoyed a superb start in Group C as they won 2-1 in Italy in March and then defeated Ukraine. They will now be expected to keep up their perfect record and pull away from Italy, who are at the Nations League finals. England are away to Malta, a team ranked fourth-last in Europe, on Friday. They follow that by hosting North Macedonia at Old Trafford.

Midfield star Jude Bellingham, who has just completed a move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, is injured but Southgate could give a debut to Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze.

“It’s been a journey getting